All posts by z3u9t.icu

It was always going to be a tough task, but West Brom were absolutely embarrassed by Manchester City at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night.

Aside from a few glancing attempts early doors, the Premier League’s front-runners romped to a 5-0 victory as Sam Allardyce’s backline was once again ruthlessly exposed by an all-out attacking masterclass.

Ilkay Gundogan bagged a brace, whilst the remaining three goals were scored by Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling – perhaps the one shining light was the fact that Kevin De Bruyne was absent through injury otherwise it may have been a cricket score.

The Baggies’ midfielder was bypassed with ease, as it often is without a holding midfielder, and it saw Romaine Sawyers graded a lowly 5.5 by SofaScore but it is a little unfair on him.

It’s not his fault that he may not be good enough for this level of football. The 29-year-old doesn’t get that time and space he’s used to like in the Championship, nor does he have the capabilities to be a defensive influence.

Instead, fingers should be pointed at the Premier League’s leakiest defence – Albion have conceded 12 more goals than any other top-flight team and no team in Europe has let in more goals at home.

Big Sam really needed his defence up to the job but they all badly let him down, none more so than Darnell Furlong, who endured an abysmal night up against Sterling and Mahrez.

He had been out of the starting XI since the Arsenal whitewash, and it’s now easy to see why as he betrayed Allardyce’s faith in him.

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The 25-year-old was their third-worst rated outfield player by SofaScore after he won only two of 12 duels (16%) both on the ground and in the air, which only further proves how he struggled to combat either of City’s wing threats.

Furlong also lost possession 14 times, meaning he was practically gifting the ball back to the visitors – as if they weren’t already heavily dominating the game (78% total possession), per SofaScore.

Given the former QPR star only made 35 touches, he lost the ball once every 2.5 times he it which was also once every six minutes.

By comparison, even the Baggies’ goalkeeper managed more touches throughout the 90 minutes.

BirminghamLive’s Joseph Chapman was equally scathing over Furlong’s display in his post-match ratings column as he graded as his joint-worst defender. He wrote:

“He was caught out at the back and gave Foden acres. Albeit with the misfortune of an officiating mistake, he played Silva onside as City began to run riot. Run ragged as Sterling and Mahrez, whose movement was second to none, caused havoc on either wing.”

It’s no wonder the Englishman had been out of the lineup in Albion’s two previous outings and Allardyce may well want to think again before he can trust the £21.5k-per-week lightweight again.

Until the likes of Sawyers and Jake Livermore are given added support in midfield, the blame has to lie in defence.

AND in other news, Big Sam can finally offload West Brom flop by securing “unique” gem likened to Iniesta…

Sunderland fans were far from happy with Lee Johnson after the Black Cats’ 2-2 draw with Milton Keynes Dons.

The Wearside outfit were held by a side currently in 16th place in the table. The point sees them drop out of the play-off spots, as well, although they do have two games in hand on Charlton Athletic, who are currently in sixth place (BBC).

As always after matches, Johnson spoke to the club’s media team about the game. While some fans pointed out that he talks quite well, others were quick to share their frustration with the boss – they appear to believe they should be far closer to earning promotion to the Championship than what they are now.

The interview was shared on the club’s Twitter account, and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Johnson below

“All your fault today. Shocking team selection and paid the price for it”

Credit: @LukeyD_

“Absolute Rubbish. Johnson talks well but no end product”

Credit: @njc_rt

“Frustrating day, he speaks the lingo but some team selections and slow subs mean he’s starting to look a bit lost to me. Hope he proves me wrong.”

Credit: @CurryPhil

“First time he’s sounded very deflated I think he knows he’s got this one wrong”

Credit: @JordanGowling29

“Hasn’t a clue! Fact!”

Credit: @andyfi5h

“It’s not the worst point in the world…” So frustrating hearing an SAFC manager saying that when we are playing catch up. Blaming the pitch, blaming the officials. Look inward. Improve. Never mind “having a strong bench”, I wanna see a strong starting XI.”

Credit: @Kevsol

In other news, Sunderland fans react to this new arrival.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed an encouraging boost after it was confirmed that two players returned to training this week…

What’s the word?

Ahead of the second leg of their Europa League Round of 32 clash with Wolfsberger AC tonight, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho delivered a positive update in his pre-game press conference, where he revealed that both Serge Aurier and Giovani Lo Celso were nearing a comeback.

On Aurier, he said: “Serge is almost there, I believe for the weekend and if not the weekend, Fulham next week, but Serge is coming.”

And on Lo Celso, Mourinho added: “Gio is not coming back, but coming back to training with the team, which is a big step and a very important one. Even today, he was training for the first time, of course, with lots of protection in relation to what he could or could not do.

“It’s good news. It’s maybe a couple of weeks to play, but let’s say if everything goes well, we are on the countdown.”

Mourinho will be delighted

Given the run of form Spurs find themselves in at the minute – six defeats in eight – it will be a welcome boost to have two players back capable of making an impact for the rest of the campaign.

At right-back, it is becoming increasingly clear that Mourinho does not trust £15m summer signing Matt Doherty and reports have surfaced, via ESPN, suggesting that his future past the summer could be in serious doubt.

Indeed, Aurier has usurped the Irishman despite all of his own worries. The Spurs boss revealed during their Amazon ‘All or Nothing’ docuseries that he was scared of the former PSG star’s defending, so it speaks volumes that he’s started more times (13) than Doherty (nine).

Japhet Tanganga was preferred to the 29-year-old on Sunday, too.

Whilst Lo Celso is capable of injecting much-needed influence further up the pitch. As we’ve seen in recent matches, Mourinho has given chances to wide duo Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura in the no.10 role, with Tanguy Ndombele playing a little deeper.

This surely means the Argentine playmaker could slot right back in, eventually.

On the face of it, a return of only one goal and one assist in the league isn’t anything to scream about but Lo Celso’s importance shouldn’t be understated.

He sits third to the impressive partnership of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son for key passes per game (0.8), which means he’s creating more chances than everyone but Spurs’ two biggest goal threats.

Whilst of all players to play ten or more league games this term, Aurier (0.24) and Lo Celso (0.21) are only behind Kane for expected assists per 90 minutes, via Understat, only reinforcing their importance to this side picking up results.

In the two games without Aurier, Spurs have scored just once, whilst since the turn of the year, the north London outfit have only surpassed two goals in one game on two occasions, which isn’t good enough for a side that was sitting top of the table in mid-December.

Clearly, the return of the pair will be a major boost for Spurs, and that should ultimately have Mourinho absolutely delighted.

AND in other news, Forget Alli: Jose must unleash “special” £18m-rated Spurs star who’s “full of quality” TONIGHT…

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce is facing a difficult dilemma ahead of his side’s clash with Everton tomorrow evening.

The 66-year-old is able to welcome back one of his first-team regulars, Semi Ajayi, from suspension, meaning he’ll have a decision to make defensively after his side kept another rare clean sheet.

Young academy graduate Dara O’Shea expertly deputised in the absence of the 6 foot 4 colossus, but there will be a temptation to bring Ajayi straight back in, and so there should…

On the Chalkboard

The 27-year-old, signed from Rotherham for a bargain £1.5m, has started 24 matches in the Premier League this season, including all but one under Big Sam’s control.

That being the controversial 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend, which saw the result marred by a moment of madness from referee Lee Mason, and then VAR.

Without Ajayi, the versatile Irishman stepped up to the plate, recording his season-high average rating of 7.58 after winning five aerial duels (nearly double his average for the season), making five interceptions (1.7 per game average) and putting in three clearances, via WhoScored.

It’s no wonder that Allardyce has hinted that he could well stick with O’Shea, he told the Express & Star earlier this week:

“We got a clean sheet and Dara has performed very well. Dara was unlucky to be left out the side anyway. He did a job for us filling in in a few different positions and then found himself left out the team which is very disappointing.”

This may tell us there’s a chance he starts again, but perhaps there’s a clue right there. Big Sam has dropped him before, and shouldn’t be afraid to do so again.

O’Shea has previously been lauded “the future” of the club by former boss Slaven Bilic, while Exeter manager Matty Taylor dubbed him “exceptional” and claimed he had ” a chance of making it all the way in the game.”

While this is all true, he’s going to be a long-term option in the role, rather than someone starting each and every week.

The Baggies will be facing an Everton side with the troublesome Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front, a player known for his strong aerial ability (wins 4.7 duels per game).

As a result, those extra three inches may well be needed to thwart the £40.5m-rated talisman. And in addition to that, Ajayi is West Brom’s third-highest goalscorer for the current campaign with two goals, so evidently, he’s more of a nuisance from set-pieces than O’Shea, who has no goals this term, too.

Calvert-Lewin has bagged 18 goals in all competitions this season too, which is a worrying prospect when Big Sam needs clean sheets to spearhead Albion to safety – therefore, reverting back to his usual defence seems the best option, as ruthless as it would be.

O’Shea has struggled in some big games this season, as per WhoScored – Leicester and Jamie Vardy (5.56 rating), Leeds and Patrick Bamford (5.79), Man City and Raheem Sterling (5.58).

He could be at risk once again here.

The £2.25m-rated defender must be axed with Ajayi available for selection.

AND in other news, Underrated: West Brom’s “dynamic” £15k-p/w gem has been Moore’s finest parting gift…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Dean Windass praised former Hull City winger Jarrod Bowen for his performances in the Premier League.

Bowen has been an ever-present when fit for West Ham United and is a crucial cog in David Moyes’ well-oiled machine.

During his final season and a half for Hull, Bowen registered 38 goals and 10 assists in 75 games which was making a lot of Premier League clubs interested.

After a deadline day fight, Moyes got his man and is proving his worth both on and off the ball registering five goals and three assists in the league so far.

The winger has carried the ball the second furthest out of anyone at West ham (40892 yards) only behind Declan Rice with 6549 yards.

Bowen’s willingness to run himself into the ground for the side is extremely valuable to how Moyes has got the Hammers playing this season.

Windass admits he was wrong to question Bowen’s ability after he departed Hull.

He told Football FanCast: “I’ve questioned Jarrod Bowen before. I questioned Jarrod when he left Hull. Was he good enough to play in the Premier League?

“He’s proved me wrong and he’s probably proved himself wrong the kid. He’s a lovely kid.”

Bowen’s form has also forced Moyes into some tough choices into who misses out in the starting line-up which has often been Said Benrahma, which Windass spoke about.

“You bring in Benrahma who’s been in and out. I think if they wouldn’t have gotten Jesse Lingard, Benrahma would have played a lot more games.”

The 24-year old is improving every game and thriving in a team that is full of energy and confidence and looking to breach the top four.

If West Ham are to earn a spot in the Champions League, Bowen’s energy and willingness to sacrifice personal achievements for the team will have to remain at the highest level.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell believes the Gunners could “gazump” Leicester City in their attempts to sign Celtic star Odsonne Edouard this summer.

Reports from the Daily Mail last week claimed the Foxes were closing in on a £15m deal for the French forward, who made it clear he wanted to reunite with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

Edouard, who has netted 20 goals this season, is out of contract at Parkhead next summer which has resulted in his valuation dropping over the last 12 months.

Arsenal to ‘make a bigger offer’ for Edouard?

Talking exclusively to Football Insider, Campbell was asked if he feels Arsenal would show an interest in Edouard at £15m, answering with his views on a potential ‘bigger offer’.

“Edouard knows Brendan Rodgers but let’s watch this space.

“If Arsenal are looking at him then they will gazump Leicester and make a bigger offer. Leicester have got a few quid, don’t get me wrong but if Arsenal are interested it’s a different story.

“If Mikel Arteta is interested in bringing the age of the forward line down by a few years then they have got to start battling for Edouard. They will have to put something down on the table for him.”

Transfer Tavern take

It appears as if a summer exit for Edouard is inevitable and with Campbell tipping Arsenal to ‘make a bigger offer’, that could well play into the Hoops’ hands.

A bidding war between the two Premier League clubs could materialise, should both sides be extremely keen to sign the 23-year-old.

That may then see the Hoops receiving a fee closer to their £25m valuation from during the January window, which would be a massive boost to help kickstart Dominic McKay’s reign – that is a lot of money the new Bhoys chief could reinvest into the squad.

In other news: A manager has confirmed his player has been spending time with the Hoops, find out more here.

Crystal Palace head into Saturday’s clash with West Bromwich Albion having the luxury choice over whether to include Wilfried Zaha from the start.

The mercurial winger made his return to action from an injury lay-off with a second half cameo as a substitute last week in the 4-1 thumping at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the time has now come for Roy Hodgson to include the Ivorian from the start and there are no better opponents in which to do that.

Put simply, Zaha has been the Eagles’ best player this season, a view backed up by the seasonal WhoScored ratings for Crystal Palace’s squad.

Before his injury, the 28-year-old had struck nine goals and two assists in the Premier League alone, needing to find the net just once more to record the best personal scoring season of his career.

No player in the Palace squad this season has got anywhere near his levels of productivity, with next highest scorer Christian Benteke sitting on just five goals for the season.

Coming up against West Bromwich Albion, too, Zaha will be confident on improving on his personal record.

So far throughout his career, he has hit four goals against the Baggies, including two in Palace’s 5-1 destruction in the reverse fixture this season.

Only against Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion has Zaha scored more goals, so Hodgson really should be contemplating including him from the start today.

Another reason why Zaha should be introduced is Palace’s infamously poor record without him. Since the start of the 2015/16 season, the winger has been unavailable on 28 occasions in the Premier League. Of those matches, Palace have won just five.

Extrapolated over a 38-game season, this would give the club approximately seven victories – only enough to see them potentially looking down the barrel of relegation.

Whilst they are some way off that territory this year, a win against West Brom would further quell any lingering fears of a survival battle, and key to that will surely be Wilfried Zaha.

AND in more news, have a look at why we believe Crystal Palace should not make a permanent move for Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi…

After holding in-form Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Elland Road last time out in the Premier League, Leeds return to action when they take on Fulham on Friday night.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have had some troubles in front of goal recently, failing to find the back of the net in their last three top-flight games, and it’s a run which has seen them pick up just one point from a possible nine.

With The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealing a mixed bag in terms of news on the injury front, Bielsa will once again be searching for his best possible line-up to ensure a return to winning ways at Craven Cottage.

With that in mind, below is a look at how Leeds might line up for the trip to Fulham tonight.

In goal, Illan Meslier will be hoping to keep his tenth Premier League clean sheet of the season, moving into the top five among all shot-stoppers.

Ahead of the match, Hay confirmed that club captain Liam Cooper will once again be missing from action due to illness; and while Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente helped keep a shut-out against Chelsea, Robin Koch is surely pushing for a long-awaited start and could give Bielsa a huge call to make.

Gjanni Alioski endured a difficult game against the Blues and could do with being dropped, and that could see Stuart Dallas fill in at left-back once more.

In midfield, Hay revealed that Rodrigo is a doubt with a muscular problem, and there’s surely no way Bielsa will be looking to risk the Spaniard if that’s the case.

That should see Tyler Roberts keep his place, while the £45,000-a-week earning Mateusz Klich could come in to take Dallas’ role in the middle of the park.

Klich’s return to the starting line-up could well be the only other change Bielsa makes, so the likes of Jack Harrison, Raphinha, and Patrick Bamford – fresh off a hugely surprising England snub – should keep their places in attack.

Predicted XI: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Koch, Dallas; Phillips; Raphinha, Klich, Roberts, Harrison; Bamford.

Meanwhile, Leeds must start this “rock” tonight…

West Brom may have signed the wrong striker in the summer…

What was the word?

According to Express & Star reporter Joseph Masi, the Baggies were “looking at” Ivan Toney and were “in talks” over a potential move back in July.

It was then reported by Football Insider less than a month later that the door had opened for Albion to strike as the 6 foot 2 talisman was keen on securing a move to the top-flight.

The 25-year-old would go onto sign for former Championship rivals Brentford for an initial £5m, which could double with add-ons, as per Sky Sports.

Hawthorns chief Luke Dowling then settled for Huddersfield Town’s Karlan Grant for over double the price at £12m – and only one of the two has been a success this season…

Scoring for fun

Simply put, the decision to not pay just £5m for Toney is looking like one of West Brom’s biggest mistakes in recent times.

Since arriving in west London, the former Newcastle United graduate has bagged a whopping 28 goals in just 36 appearances, whilst also providing nine assists – that’s a direct goal contribution every 83.5 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

“Ivan is a special, special player,” lauded Bees boss Thomas Frank after his main man surpassed the 20-goal mark last month. Whilst more recently, Toney has drawn comparisons to Harry Kane due to his astonishing numbers.

By comparison, Grant has struggled for goals and game time – managing just the solitary goal all season. It means he’s contributed just one goal in 1,095 minutes of action.

£12m for one goal, whilst Brentford’s shrewd recruitment have hit the jackpot once again. That initial £5m is a mere £178k per goal.

There is, of course, one factor that could swing in the Baggies’ favour as the Championship is far below that of the Premier League, though Toney’s record in League One at Peterborough (40 goals in 76 league apps) suggests he’ll find the net at any level.

In just a few months, his value has skyrocketed – going from just £4.05m on arrival to now being worth £16.2m, as per Transfermarkt.

That only adds to West Brom’s misery, and Dowling should be a little red-faced after his failure to secure a proper striker this season. Had Albion benefitted from the quality of Toney, then who knows, maybe their season would’ve gone down a different path.

AND in other news, Sam Allardyce repeating a big Slaven Bilic mistake at West Brom…

Steven Gerrard looks to have been handed a potential blow ahead of next season at Ibrox, with Lazio reportedly eyeing a move for Rangers star Ianis Hagi this summer.

According to reports from Italy, the Biancocelesti are keen on signing the Romanian international this summer as they look to amend their goalscoring issues in Serie A.

The report added that a bid of €10m (£8.6m) would be enough to prise the 22-year-old away from Ibrox this summer, and it would surely be a big blow for Gerrard if Hagi were to depart.

Rangers initially signed the attacking midfielder on loan from Belgian side Genk in January of the 2019/20 season and he contributed three goals and two assists for Gerrard’s side in all competitions, which was clearly enough to convince the 40-year-old to make the transfer a permanent one last summer.

He has continued to impress this season, with seven goals and 12 assists to his name in all competitions, so he has clearly become an important player at Ibrox despite being just 22.

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Gerrard was full of praise for Hagi after his double against Braga in the Europa League last season, saying: “Ianis is an outstanding talent and that stage was made for him.”

Therefore, it seems fair to suggest that the former Liverpool captain will be desperate to keep the youngster in his squad ahead of next season, when Rangers will be looking to give a strong account of themselves in the Champions League, as well as attempting to retain the Premiership title they won so impressively this term.

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Considering Hagi’s contract isn’t set to expire until 2024, you would hope that Rangers would be able to demand a hefty fee should Lazio make an official approach this summer. However, if the Romanian international is keen on a move to Italy, there may be little that Rangers can do to stand in his way.

And, in other news… Gerrard may already have his McGregor replacement in teen wonderkid training with the first team