All posts by n8rngtd.top

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According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa are not prioritising contract talks with Albert Adomah, fuelling suggestions that the attacker could leave this summer.

Adomah has made 27 Championship appearances during the 2018-19 campaign, but has only contributed one goal and three assists.

The 31-year-old will see his contract with Villa expire in June and according to the Birmingham Mail, the club has not opened talks over an extension.

The Villa fans have been on social media offering their views on the claim.

And it would be fair to say that the majority want Adomah to be moved on.

The 6 ft 1 ace has been with Villa since 2016, scoring 19 times in 113 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

As mentioned above, the 18-time Ghana international has played a lot of football this season, but has struggled to contribute any end product on a consistent basis.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Villa fans can be seen below:

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Bernd Leno has won Arsenal’s Player of the Month award, per Arsenal’s official website.

The goalkeeper enjoyed a superb showing in the north London derby in March, making a brilliant double save from Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko as the Gunners earned a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

Arsenal beat Manchester United in the Premier League and defeated Rennes over two legs in March.

Leno was key to the first victory, making an excellent save from Romelu Lukaku as the Gunners won 2-0 to inflict Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first league defeat as United boss.

Fans voted for the Germany international to win the award in the droves, with the club’s website reporting that he gained 70% of the votes.

Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka came in second and third.

Leno has made a total of 29 appearances in all competitions thus far this season, keeping eight clean sheets in total.

And fans have expressed their delight at Leno being rewarded for his performances. Take a look at the best of the reaction on Twitter below!

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Reported Liverpool target David Neres scored a special goal in Ajax’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Juventus on Wednesday night, and Reds fans on Twitter were quick to comment and say they want to see the 22-year-old at Anfield.

French media outlet Le 10 Sport reported this week that the Merseyside outfit had joined the race for the talented Brazilian, who has been in brilliant form for the Dutch giants this season.

He showed the quality and confidence that he has coursing through his veins with a brilliant curling strike into the far corner against the Old Lady in Amsterdam, levelling the scores for his side as a result.

While Liverpool have a brilliant front three available to them in Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, they perhaps don’t have the quality and strength in depth in those positions to really push the trio into fearing for their starting spots.

Neres would certainly do that considering he has scored 12 goals and provided a further 15 assists in 44 appearances in total for Ajax during the current campaign.

Find out why “Liverpool won’t win the league” in the video below…

Reds supporters on social media certainly believe that the South American talent can make a difference, with one saying he “would keep Salah and Mane on their toes”.

Another urged the club to move, saying “Jurgen Klopp please get David Neres”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Manchester United fans have been busy heaping praise on Scott McTominay following the Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona at Old Trafford.

The Scottish midfielder’s inclusion in the starting eleven looked to be a recipe for disaster, as alongside Fred and Diogo Dalot, United’s midfield didn’t look anywhere near up to the standard of Barcelona’s, which contained Sergio Busquets, Arthur and Arturo Vidal.

Check out World of Lewis’ Man Utd v Barcelona matchday vlog in the video below…

However, the Red Devils academy graduate excelled against one of Europe’s best teams. McTominay more than held his own in midfield, winning three aerial duels, completing two dribbles and making two interceptions.

One moment, in which he bravely sold Vidal a dummy on the edge of his own area and left the Chilean on his backside, had the fans up off their seats in approval of his composure.

The 22-year-old’s performance represents a remarkable turnaround from his turbulent time under Jose Mourinho, which drew criticism from some of United’s fans.

Now, however, the youngster is receiving praise from almost every corner of the fanbase on Twitter after his Champions League masterclass…

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According to TEAMtalk, Manchester City are interested in rivalling Manchester United and other European giants to the signing of Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, who has a release clause of just £25m.

What’s the word, then?

Well the aforementioned report reveals that the Cityzens are considering a swoop for the Belgian international, with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona also keeping tabs on the situation.

The reigning Premier League champions are keen to find a long-term partner for the outstanding Aymeric Laporte, as all three of John Stones, Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to show enough to prove they can fulfil the role.

6-1 up and “not a whimper”!? Check out some damning verdicts of the Etihad atmosphere in the video below…

Club captain Kompany can only play a certain amount of games due to his waning fitness levels, and with Stones and Otamendi both inconsistent in their form, there is space for another defender.

Where does this leave Stones?

A player who has been heralded by Guardiola in the past and is clearly highly-rated by the Spaniard, Stones has found game time hard to come by of late and has started just 20 of the Citizens’ 34 league games this season.

According to The Mirror, the England international is frustrated at his lack of playing time, despite reports that he is set to be offered a contract extension.

The same article reveals that Guardiola believes Stones will eventually forge a partnership with Laporte at centre-back, but if Alderweireld is brought in and played ahead of him – which seems likely or else the decision to sign him would be a strange one – the former Barnsley defender may become even more frustrated.

Would he want to wait until the 30-year-old is done and dusted after already having to bide his time for a consistent spot in the first team?

It is unlikely that signing the former Ajax man would force Stones out of the exit door completely, but given the fact that he is already reportedly frustrated, Alderweireld’s arrival could seriously damage his morale.

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Unai Emery has given a major update on Aaron Ramsey after the Arsenal midfielder sustained a hamstring injury against Napoli in the Europa League quarter-final, per The Independent.

The midfielder is set to leave the Gunners in the summer, having agreed a deal to join Juventus.

What’s the word?

Arsenal won 1-0 in Italy to qualify for the Europa League semi-finals.

Ramsey, however, was forced off the pitch after just 34 minutes, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan introduced as his replacement.

With just seven games of the season remaining – that number may rise to eight if Arsenal qualify for the Europa League final – there are doubts over whether Ramsey will feature again for the north London club.

After the match, Emery said: “His injury today can give us some matches without him. I don’t know if we’ll see him again before the end of the season.”

The Spaniard followed up by claiming: “I don’t know how long it will take him out of the team, but maybe two or three weeks.”

Arsenal’s last game of the season is scheduled for May 12th – three weeks away – so Ramsey’s situation appears to be touch-and-go.

A sad goodbye

It would be genuinely heartbreaking for supporters and Ramsey alike if being stretchered off against Napoli proves to be his last act for the club.

The 5 foot 10 Welshman has been in north London since 2008 and has made 371 appearances for the Gunners, winning three FA Cups.

With such an impeccable service record, Ramsey deserved a grander finale than this.

He may well return, of course, but if he doesn’t, fans will have already said goodbye to one of their longest-serving stars.

That, truly, would be a tragedy.

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Former footballer Stuart Pearce has urged Wolves to be careful with the possibility of Europa League football being played at Molineux next season looming. The ex-manager was speaking to Sky Sports’ The Debate podcast (25/04).

What’s he said?

Wolves were in a poor rut of form going into their midweek game with Arsenal. Having been brilliant all season they looked as though they were finally hitting a brick wall as the reality of European football started to sink in.

An FA Cup semi-final defeat against Watford initially looked as though it could derail their season but a phenomenal win over Arsenal got them back on track and back in the hunt for seventh place.

It seems to be a four horse race at the moment with Nuno Santo’s men challenging Everton, Watford and Leicester for that final Europa League spot.

However, speaking to The Debate Podcast about Wolves (23.23 onwards), Pearce was quick to specify that they’d need to add players otherwise they could be at risk of sliding down the table like Burnley did this season. He said:

“Their recruitment’s been brilliant last summer for this season. I think they’re going to have to expand the squad again if they take on a Europa League place like Burnley. They suffered so badly the whole season. Sean [Dyche] didn’t sort it out until February. Wolves can learn a lesson from that. Be careful if you get into Europe. Be careful what you wish for in some ways.”

European football a risk

It would be quite something if Wolves were to qualify for Europe after just a single season back in the Premier League but it would be a testament to just how good they’ve been this term.

Although they’ve struggled against some of the poorer sides in the division, the 16 points they’ve taken from top six teams is astonishing.

However, their squad does remain quite thin and as a result, European football could be a hindrance. You feel that Wolves need to really establish themselves in the top flight first before obtaining a spot in Europe.

A Wolves fan shares his most gutting moment of the last 10 years supporting the club in the video below…

Pearce is right to suggest that the Midlands club can learn from Burnley. Their form at the start of the season was terrible and although Wolves do have better players, fans should be concerned about the size of their squad.

They’ll have to be shrewd in the market and also be careful with their investment if they do end up playing in the Europa League.

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Sky Sports pundit Liam Rosenior believes that Mauricio Pochettino will have learned a number of lessons from Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 loss to Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, per The Debate.

What’s he said?

Spurs fell to a disappointing loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Donny van de Beek scoring the only goal of the game.

Pochettino’s men, then, need to win in Amsterdam if they are to have any hope of reaching the final in Madrid.

And Rosenior, speaking on the Debate podcast (April 30, two minutes, 35 seconds), believes that the Argentine will have learned that he cannot again set up with a 3-5-2 formation.

Indeed, Spurs struggled in the opening half an hour against the Dutch outfit, who dominated possession in the first period, but found a foothold after Moussa Sissoko replaced the injured Jan Vertonghen and utilised a back four.

Asked about how Pochettino can turn the game around, the former Fulham and Hull City star said: “Not to play 3-5-2 against Ajax. It’s difficult setting your team up as a coach or a manager and he will have looked at that, but before Vertonghen went off he actually moved to a back four because, what was happening, Ajax were building through their two full-backs; they had so much space and time.

“From 3-5-2 it’s so difficult to press the opposition’s full-backs. As soon as they changed to a diamond, and they go to a four, Sissoko comes on, they pressed Ajax higher up the pitch and Ajax’s passing rhythm went out of the game.

“All of a sudden they got themselves back in the game so, yes, being 1-0 down is difficult but he will have learned so many lessons from a tactical point of view.”

Major injuries

Spurs struggled against Ajax because of the club’s lengthy injury list.

Sissoko started the game on the bench and Pochettino’s men subsequently ceded possession to a team that loves to dominate the ball.

The Frenchman made a significant difference after his introduction, taking the ball on the transition and giving his side an outlet on the counter-attack.

Next week, Sissoko will likely be fit to play from the outset, while Son Heung-Min will not be suspended for the second leg.

Pochettino perhaps made the wrong call but next week, with two of his best players back to fitness, he is unlikely to make such an error again.

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to demand the signing of Ajax wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt, who played a starring role in the Dutch giants’ run to the Champions League semi-finals – he netted thumping headers against Juventus and Tottenham.

The 19-year-old already wears the armband at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and is regarded as one of the world’s best in his position despite the fact he is just a teenager.

Have Premier League grounds become “lifeless tourist attractions”? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

For those reasons, Liverpool fans have pleaded with their club to sign him.

However, it would probably be a strange signing as well as a waste of money. The Reds currently have their own young centre-back sensation in Joe Gomez, a player who was performing at a ridiculously high level before suffering an injury.

Additionally, Jurgen Klopp also has the impressive Joel Matip, as well as Dejan Lovren to call upon in that role – they are overstocked at centre-back, and should probably focus their efforts on getting a new forward in.

Despite that logic, a number of Liverpool fans on Twitter are clearly desperate to see the Holland international arrive at Anfield…

Never settle for less: Everton offered a chance to sign former West Ham United man Joao Mario from Inter Milan for £15million but is this really the way they should be going?

According to the Daily Mail, Everton have been offered the chance to sign Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario – but to what extent will this jeopardise their pursuit of Andre Gomes?

The 26-year-old Portugal international has already spent a season in the Premier League with West Ham United last season, to mixed reviews (veering more towards negative), and is said to be available for around £15million.

Mario provided two goals and one assist during 13 Premier League appearances for the Hammers last term, which makes for moderately better viewing than Gomes’ one goal and one assist in 27 appearances during the 2018/19 campaign.

However, we would vehemently argue that these stats don’t really give a very fair reflection of the Barcelona man’s ability, which – going off general play – far outweighs that of his countryman, who struggled to hit any of the right notes at a consistent enough rate. Not least at Gomes’ standards.

Everton face competition from Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur who are apparently also trying to convince the Portuguese star to sign a deal with them this summer.

If Mario and the £15million they intend on spending on him is the difference between deal or no deal, Everton should sack any and all intentions of signing the Inter midfielder and head into the Gomes negotiations all guns blazing.

Not only does Gomes possess the right level of quality to “make it” with Everton, but he evidently fits the DNA of the squad under Marco Silva, and to introduce someone else – who gives no guarantee of success (quite the opposite, in fact) would be nonsensical on the part of the Toffees’ boardroom.

Everton fans, who would you rather sign? Let us know in the comments below!