All posts by z3u9t.icu

Journalist Phil Hay has confirmed that Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has only picked up a minor injury, hailing the update as ‘good news’.

The Lowdown: Forshaw limps off at West Ham

The Whites secured a brilliant 3-2 win away to West Ham on Sunday afternoon, in what was arguably one of their best results of the season.

Forshaw limped off in the first half at the London Stadium with a hamstring injury, however, and it was feared that he would be missing for a chunk of action given his previous woes.

With Kalvin Phillips already sidelined, as well as numerous others, it was a blow that Marcelo Bielsa could do without.

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The Latest: Hay confirms positive news

Thankfully, Forshaw took to Instagram on Monday to confirm that the issue is only a minor one, with Hay reacting to it on Twitter:

“Good news from Forshaw on the hamstring front. Looks to have avoided a bad one.”

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The Verdict: Big boost for Leeds

This is a rare positive in the injury department for Leeds this season, with Forshaw claiming in his post he could potentially even be back for Saturday’s visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The 30-year-old has been a revelation since returning from an extremely lengthy injury absence, starting ten league games and averaging 2.3 tackles per game, a tenaciousness in midfield they would be desperately lacking without him and Phillips.

Forshaw will remain a crucial figure in the middle of the park until the England star returns, as his hugely pleasing comeback from a career-threatening situation continues.

In other news, Hay has also given another positive Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Rangers failed to add another win to their tally in the Europa League as they drew 1-1 against Brondby on Thursday night.

They are now on four points after four matches in the group, having lost to Lyon and Sparta Prague in their first two games before beating the Danish side 2-0 at Ibrox.

The Gers were able to find an equaliser in the second half in Denmark after Steven Gerrard made a bold call before the hour mark as he brought Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent on at the same time. Kent and Hagi later combined to make it 1-1, securing a point for the Scottish giants.

Despite the spirited comeback to rescue a draw, one player who let Gerrard down badly in midfield for Rangers was Steven Davis.

The Northern Ireland international endured a rough night as he struggled to get to grips with the Brondby midfield, ultimately ending with him being hauled off the pitch in the 72nd minute – before Hagi’s equaliser. He struggled at both ends of the park and will surely have been disappointed with his own performance.

Defensively, he offered next to nothing for the Gers. As per SofaScore, he failed to win a single duel in his time on the pitch. He also made zero blocks, interceptions or tackles, with one clearance his only defensive contribution of the entire match. This suggests that he was unable to get close enough to the Brondby midfielders to win back the ball for the Gers, with his ageing legs being overrun in the middle of the park.

He did not fare much better on the ball, either. As per SofaScore, he failed with his only attempt at a dribble, whilst he also failed to create a single chance for a teammate with his passing. He did complete 88% of his passes but only executed one of his three long pass attempts, and his lack of creativity suggests that his pass selection was too bland to make an impact in the final third.

Therefore, Davis let Gerrard down badly as he was a liability at both ends of the pitch. He will need to improve offensively and defensively to warrant a regular starting spot in the team moving forward, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he keeps his place in the XI on Sunday at Ibrox against Ross County in the Premiership.

AND in other news, Forget Hagi: Rangers gem with 103 touches stole the show against Brondby…

Lots of Glasgow Rangers fans have been left raging over a post from the club’s social media channels.

As per the club’s official Twitter feed, David McCallum, Brian Gilmour, Jermain Defoe and Colin Stewart will now all lead their first team while the recruitment process for a new manager continues.

It was reported that further talks will be held with three candidates in particular, two unnamed and the other being Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who many Gers fans want to see getting the job.

However, with the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hibernian set to take place on Sunday, it is worrying that it does not seem as if the Light Blues have settled on a new coach yet. The process needs to be accelerated quickly in order for them to be best prepared for what is a crucial game in their season.

Rangers fans on manager news

These Gers supporters were left raging as the news on their manager search was shared on Twitter:

“Don’t say that”

Credit: @RampantRyanJack

“Not a good sign. Was hopeful deal done today.”

Credit: @CraigRMScott

“Not funny”

Credit: @ScottWinning72

“You serious?”

Credit: @williamreilly72

“Delete this”

Credit: @HayleygreerX

“Just not what we wanted to see”

Credit: @Craig55_

In other news, find out what Van Bronckhorst news had these Gers fans going wild

Celtic are close to completing the Parkhead arrivals of three players in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Japanese publication The Mainichi, who claim that Celtic are nearing deals for all three of Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate ahead of the winter market.

The report goes on to state that the club are progressing well in discussions with Yokohama F Marinos and Gamba Osaka, the respective clubs of Maeda and Ideguchi, regarding deals, as both sides are happy to sanction the sale of their respective stars.

However, it is also said the Bhoys talks with Kawasaki Frontale, the club of Hatate, are at a less advanced stage, as the J League side are currently demanding much more for the 24-year-old than Celtic are prepared to offer.

Ange will be buzzing

With Ange Postecoglou openly stating that he is willing to raid the Japanese top flight of its most impressive players in January, the fact that Celtic appear close to signing three of Japan’s brightest talents is sure to have left the 56-year-old buzzing.

Indeed, over his 36 J League appearances this season, centre-forward Maeda scored a whopping 23 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, with these returns seeing the £990k-rated man average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09 – ranking him as his club’s joint sixth-best performer in the top flight of Japanese football.

Meanwhile, over Hatate’s 30 league fixtures, the versatile midfielder scored five goals, provided two assists and created three big chances, with these metrics seeing him average a SofaScore match rating of 7.16, while central midfielder Ideguchi averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.76 over his own 29 J League appearances.

As such, should Celtic indeed go on to land all three of these players in January, not only would they continue Postecoglou’s Japanese revolution at Parkhead – following the summer signing of Kyogo Furuhashi – they would also represent a huge step in the 56-year-old’s revolution of the Bhoys first-team squad – something that would only appear to bode well for the club’s title chances this season.

In other news: Major blow: Ange confirms injury update that will surely devastate Celtic fans

Fans of Aston Villa have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which Gregg Evans relayed recent comments made by Dean Smith regarding Morgan Sanson’s progression at the club.

Since joining Villa from Olympique Marseille in what was a £14.22 million deal back in January, Sanson is yet to be awarded a start in the Premier League, with the midfielder’s four appearances for the club all coming as a substitute.

However, speaking prior to the club’s clash with Sheffield United on Wednesday evening, the 49-year-old Villa manager provided a rather positive update on the development of the £18 million-rated 26-year-old, suggesting that the Frenchman could be in line to start a fixture in the near future.

He said: “He’s starting to show what he’s about in games when he’s been coming on. But he’s an ambitious young man who wants to start games and I’m confident enough now that he can start games for us and I have no doubts putting him in.”

And, after Evans relayed Smith’s comments on Twitter, fans of Villa flocked to have their say on the matter, with many urging their manager to play Sanson from the off against the Blades.

So, what exactly did these Aston Villa fans have to say in reaction to Dean Smith’s comments regarding Morgan Sanson?

“Then start him, Dean.”

@WatkinsOffside2

“That comment suggests it’s Nakamba – McGinn – Sanson tomorrow then, I’m fine with that.”

@WWE__History

“It’s fantastic that we have the opportunity to do that this season. Whereas last season we had to chuck all new signings straight in without a slow introduction. It really showed what a difference it made, after last seasons lockdown, how important it is to have a steady introduction.”

@stegzy80

“I think we are easing him into premier league life perfectly tbh. He will become more of a major player for us as time goes by. He looks decent.”

@coleman83avfc

“I can see Sanson / Barkley starting as a 10 tomorrow in place of Ramsay. Maybe he will save Sanson for Wolves on Saturday though.”

@avfcsarco

“Get in! SANSON STARTING CONFIRMED?!”

@trickytargett

“I like this talk.”

@GaryBolton91

In other news, these Villa fans are loving this crazy statistic – find out more here!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee questioned why Mike Ashley bought the Magpies and what joy he gets out of owning the club.

The former Newcastle midfielder was puzzled as to why Ashley continues to constantly neglect the club and his business. Lack of money spent and space attendances to games all adds up against the Sports Direct tycoon who seems more disinterested than ever.

Lee does not understand what Ashley gets out of neglecting Newcastle, constantly annoying the fans and pushing them to the edge – although a recent statement suggests he is more keen than ever to get a sale pushed through.

The anger towards Ashley began with the sacking of Chris Hughton who had got the club promoted at the first time of asking. It then boiled over with the string of poor appointments at the club, including Joe Kinnear (twice), Dennis Wise, Alan Pardew, Steve McClaren and Steve Bruce.

Lee, who played over 300 games for Newcastle, can’t wrap his head around Ashley’s way of thinking and why he’s so against wanting to take Newcastle forward.

He told Football FanCast: “I don’t see why you would buy a football club and just get dog’s abuse because you’re not running it properly or you’re not putting the money in that you should.

“I don’t get what satisfaction you get out of that. I genuinely don’t get it, you can’t enjoy it. Surely, if you’ve got that amount of money the objective is to enjoy that money and enjoy what you do.

“If I bought a football club then I’d want to go to the football club. I’d want to watch the team and take pleasure in putting money into it and running it properly and getting that club to be as good as it possibly can.”

It’s clear to see that Newcastle fans don’t want Ashley owning their club and have made their feelings well known for a number of years now.

However, Ashley has been a stubborn seller in the past and if the Magpies stay in the Premier League this season he may see no need to immediately jump ship.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have been informed by Borussia Dortmund that Jude Bellingham is not for sale this summer. 

The lowdown: Interest building

Since making the switch to Germany, Bellingham has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence and is now a regular for the Bundesliga side and England despite his tender years.

The Reds have been extensively linked with the 18-year-old midfielder for some time now and a big-money swoop had appeared to be on the horizon.

However, an immediate move may well have been taken off the cards if this latest update is anything to go by.

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The latest: FI drop a major update

As per an FI recruitment source, Dortmund have informed both Liverpool and Manchester United that the teenage sensation ‘will not be sold’ this summer.

The report claims that the Anfield club and arch-rivals United have made contact about signing the 12-cap England starlet.

But, as Jurgen Klopp’s former employers prepare themselves for the departure of Erling Haaland, there is said to be ‘no intention’ of allowing the midfielder once hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Gareth Southgate to follow suit.

The verdict: Worth the wait

The prospect of no summer move being forthcoming for Bellingham is undoubtedly a disappointing one for Liverpool as Klopp and incoming sporting director Julian Ward are likely to attempt to strengthen the midfield department.

With current incumbents, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago all over 30 and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stuck on the periphery of matters, signing a truly supreme star of the future such as the ex-Birmingham academy prospect – who can operate in various roles – would’ve been the ideal option to bolster the Anfield ranks.

Now the recruitment team and indeed FSG face the dilemma of whether to move on to different targets or wait for the Englishman.

Statistics on this don’t lie and Bellingham has scored six times and registered 11 assists in 40 appearances this season – we feel he would be worth the wait.

In other news, one Liverpool player has been backed to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

This is a tricky time for everyone at Sunderland.

They may be unbeaten in their last two league matches but they now won’t play until after Boxing Day following an outbreak of Coronavirus within the squad.

On the chalkboard

Sunderland players are dropping like flies at the moment and it must have been a relief to have some of their games postponed until a later date.

The Academy of Light has been closed until 27th December with four players testing positive for the pandemic but they also have injuries to contend with.

Denver Hume has joined Luke O’Nien on the sidelines. The former is recovering from a dislocated shoulder and now Josh Scowen is also on the treatment table with a fractured shin.

Once this period of postponements is out the way they will at least have Lynden Gooch back in the side.

The American has only managed one substitute appearance under Lee Johnson and has just recovered from a broken foot that had ruled him out for around three weeks.

Unleash him

It’s superb news that the winger is back quicker than first imagined and this extra period of rest should do his recovery time wonders ahead of when Sunderland take on Accrington on the 29th.

If he is fully fit then Johnson simply has to play him from the off. Gooch has been one of Sunderland’s stand out players so far this season and has two goals and four assists in 13 appearances.

The 24-year-old has been the biggest source of joy from a creative point of view and thus, could improve what Johnson wants to do tenfold. This is someone Chris Coleman claimed “ran his socks off” when he was at the club and it would be quite something if Gooch provided Sunderland with even more.

Johnson has already spoken about wanting players who can stretch the play and the man in question is one of them. Just imagine what Gooch and Jack Diamond could do as a wing pairing beside the club’s top scorer Charlie Wyke.

Diamond has got off to an exhilarating start under Johnson and has already scored with the new coaching team at the helm, performing a team-high 1.6 dribbles per game in the process. For context, Gooch has managed a haul of 1.2 per match.

This would be a fearsome duo capable of lifting the Mackems to greater heights.

AND in other news, Sunderland ace with “fantastic strength” is the biggest winner from Johnson’s arrival…

Bundesliga expert Daniel Pinder has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that he cannot see Wout Weghorst leaving Wolfsburg for Tottenham this summer.

The 6 ft 6 Dutch striker has been linked with a move to the north London club amid a stunning campaign.

Weghorst has managed to reach the 20-goal mark in the Bundesliga this season, showing that he could perhaps be a reliable alternative to Harry Kane if the England captain remains at Spurs.

Pinder, however, believes Kane’s presence at Tottenham is actually likely to detract the 28-year-old from wanting to join the club.

On Weghorst, who is currently valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, the editor-in-chief at Get German Football News told FFC:

“I think he’d only consider it if Kane leaves. Wolfsburg are third in the Bundesliga, so the chance of them getting Champions League football next season is extremely high. So unless the offer’s right, the team’s right, I don’t really think he has that desire to leave Wolfsburg.”

Loanee Carlos Vinicius is the other striker currently in Tottenham’s squad, but recent reports suggest that the Premier League outfit do not want to activate the £36m option-to-buy fee they have in place with Benfica.

It means Spurs will likely need to sign a new No.9 whether Kane stays or not.

For Neil Lennon, it is now or never at Celtic. For the sake of his job security and for the sake of the club’s future, they have to start winning games sooner rather than later.

They are 23 points behind Rangers in their quest for ten in a row, an achievement that now seems completely out of the realms of possibility.

Thoughts of succeeding in such a quest have become merely a fantasy and they have to improve. Thus, could change be on the cards?

On the chalkboard

One of Celtic’s biggest underperformers in recent weeks and months has been Ryan Christie.

The winger scored 20 times and provided 16 assists last term but in 2020/21, he has been a shadow of his former self.

Christie has scored just once in his last 16 matches – a peach in the Scottish Cup final – but beyond that strike, he has been a huge disappointment. Coincidentally, it seems to have curtailed with rumours of a move away.

Both Leeds and Arsenal have been touted as potential destinations but on the basis of his current form. He doesn’t deserve such a move.

His torrid time was typified in the 2-2 draw with Livingston last time out. He lost possession of the ball all too easily for their opener and then went onto surrender it on a further 16 occasions – the fifth-worst tally of anyone on the Celtic side.

He also failed to complete a single dribble which was down from his season average of 1.6 successful take-ons per match.

The solution

Given Celtic’s current plight, throwing lesser-seen players in at the deep end may be quite harsh.

Yet, they could well have something extra to prove to the manager. After all, if they can’t get a run in the side even when the senior figures are letting Lennon down, there isn’t much hope.

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Therefore, we think the Celtic boss should take the surprising decision to axe Christie tonight and start none other than Mikey Johnston.

The 21-year-old has started on just two occasions this term and even with James Forrest out, hasn’t been able to work his way into the side.

Of course, a lengthy injury spell has played havoc with his chances but after playing from the off in two games during the club’s bout of illness, deserves another run in the side.

Johnston hasn’t been a regular with Celtic yet but demonstrated positive signs last season on his way to being described as a “real talent” by Chris Sutton. He scored and assisted on the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign against St Johnston and then earned plaudits after scoring off the bench versus Ross County.

He ended last term with six goals and six assists from only 22 appearances and it’s that potential, combined with a few glimmers in recent weeks that should earn him a start on Tuesday.

The youngster provided three key passes against Hibernian a few weeks ago – the most of anyone on the Celtic team while his three dribbles were only bettered by Tom Rogic on that occasion.

With that in mind, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t start against Hamilton tonight. He’s certainly shown better glimpses than Christie in recent weeks.

AND in other news, Celtic struck genius deal with £10k-p/w titan who’s “grabbing the bull by the horns”…