Category Uncategorized

Former Leeds midfielder David Norris believes that signing another striker this summer would increase the pressure on Rodrigo.

Rodrigo made the big-money switch from Valencia 12 months ago, but only scored seven Premier League, four of which came in Leeds’ final four matches, and didn’t come close to dislodging Patrick Bamford from the side.

But strong reports from The Telegraph believe that Marcelo Bielsa could be set to add to his strike department this season by bringing in Michy Batshuayi to compete for a starting place with Bamford.

The Belgian striker is still a Chelsea player, but doesn’t appear likely to be in Thomas Tuchel’s long-term plans, meaning he could be allowed to move away from Stamford Bridge.

Batshuayi spent last term on loan at Crystal Palace, although he scored just twice, and only has 17 goals to his name across the previous three years combined.

However, a move to Elland Road and reunion with Bielsa would offer the striker a fresh start, but it would also crank up the pressure on Rodrigo following his mixed first season in English football.

Norris exclusively told the The Transfer Tavern:

“If you’re a player and you are playing and they bring in someone else, your first thought would be ‘are they going to replace me?’

“But if you’re doing well, and the manager trusts you, especially someone like Bielsa, then you will get your minutes, but it will put pressure on you.”

Michael Ball said that Duncan Ferguson’s spell as caretaker manager prior to Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment got Everton “bouncing again”, amid recent reports that he turned down joining the Italian at Real Madrid as he wants to manage the Toffees.

Following Marco Silva’s sacking early in December of 2019, the legendary Toffees striker was placed in temporary charge with Everton sitting in the relegation zone following a 5-2 Merseyside derby loss.

And despite a dauting run of Premier League fixtures on the horizon, Ferguson relished the big occasion and laid the foundations for incoming manager Ancelotti.

Two Dominic Calvert-Lewis goals inspired Everton to beat Chelsea in Ferguson’s first game in charge before backing up that result by earning a point at Old Trafford, although that afternoon was more remembered for the Scotsman showing his brutal side when he famously substituted a substitute in Moise Kean.

Everton were then knocked out of the EFL Cup by Leicester three days later, but Ferguson rounded off his cameo in the dugout by holding Arsenal to a goalless draw to ensure he remained unbeaten in the Premier League.

And Ball told The Transfer Tavern that Ferguson’s brief spell in charge of the team got Everton back on track:

“The last time I went to Goodison Park and really enjoyed going again and watching Everton being Everton under Duncan Ferguson, it was only for four games, but he’s the one that got the club bouncing again against Manchester United and Chelsea.

“And that’s what Carlo came in and witnessed, he saw Goodison full, the performance that Duncan got and that atmosphere.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Os 16 clubes que vão participar da Copa da Primeira Liga deste ano realizarão uma ação conjunta para promover a 2ª edição do torneio. A iniciativa será divulgada simultaneamente nas mídias oficiais dos clubes onde cada um dos participantes escreverá uma mensagem de apoio à sua equipe. As mensagens serão publicadas pelos clubes nas redes sociais nesta quinta-feira.

RelacionadasFluminensePrimeira Liga: Fluminense confirma partida de estreia em Juiz de ForaFluminense18/01/2017Futebol NacionalPrimeira Liga já tem o dobro de patrocinadores da primeira ediçãoFutebol Nacional16/01/2017Futebol NacionalClubes assinam acordo com a Globo para a Primeira LigaFutebol Nacional12/01/2017

Nas publicações, além da mensagem de apoio, será divulgada uma imagem com os escudos dos 16 clubes que participarão da Copa da Primeira Liga.

Os participantes do torneio deste ano são: Internacional, Grêmio, Brasil de Pelotas, Joinville, Chapecoense, Avaí, Figueirense, Criciúma, Paraná Clube, Londrina, Flamengo, Fluminense, Atlético-MG, Cruzeiro, América-MG e Ceará.

Mark Ramprakash, in magnificent form, took Surrey to their first CricInfo Championship victory of the season as he led the way during the second session on the final day, chasing a target of 209

Andy Jalil09-Jun-2001Mark Ramprakash, in magnificent form, took Surrey to their first CricInfo Championship victory of the season as he led the way during the second session on the final day, chasing a target of 209.During those two most entertaining hours play, while he was at the crease, the London side thrashed Somerset’s bowling, hitting 143 runs with Mark Ramprakash at his best. He came in at the start of the session and was out in the penultimate over before tea, which was taken on 184 for four with Surrey only 25 runs away from victory.Ramprakash fell just ten short of what would have been his second century of the match. Had he achieved it, it would have been the fifth time in his career, having completed the feat on four occasions for his previous county Middlesex.It had been a wonderfully aggressive knock, he hit fourteen boundaries and a six from the 99 balls that he had faced. After putting on 65 with Mark Butcher for the second wicket, he added 60 for the next with Nadeem Shahid.He brought up the 50 in confident fashion, with a straight six off left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell and later got to his own 50 with a stylish cover drive for four. With dark clouds threatening at that stage, he scored quickly, at the rate of a-run-a-ball. It was a marvellous exhibition of batting, featuring perfectly timed cuts and beautiful drives, particularly in the cover area.After tea, it was just a formality, with Gary Butcher hitting the winning boundary in the fifth over to bring about a six-wicket victory.Earlier, it had taken Surrey an hour and ten minutes this morning to claim the remaining two wickets after Somerset had added 44 runs in 18.2 overs to their overnight score of 190 for 8.Martin Bicknell had Richard Johnson caught behind for 21 in the sixth over and finally Ian Salisbury took a return catch from Matthew Bulbeck – who had come out to bat with a runner, still suffering from a back injury – after the last pair had put on 27 to take their side to 234. It left Steffan Jones not out with 29.Salisbury, who seems to enjoy bowling against Somerset, finished with his first five wicket haul of the season for 95 runs from a long spell of 35.2 overs. His best bowling figures last season were also against Somerset.Afterwards Surrey skipper, Adam Hollioake, showered Ramprakash with praise.”His innings made the tough target really easy,” he said. “He played positively and took out all the close catches. If a guy can average 50 in all his cricket he can play; you don’t do that without being a class player. He can score runs anywhere.Commenting on the fact that this win was achieved without several key players, either injured or on England duty, Hollioake said: “If you look over the years we have performed as well or better without our international players. I don’t know if it’s because when they are here it is early season but it has been a long time since we have been beaten without our internationals.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Rogério Ceni ainda nem comandou um treino sequer no São Paulo, mas já recebe elogios. O novo treinador teve sua proposta para a base exaltada por quem a conhece melhor. Nesta terça-feira, André Jardine, técnico do multicampeão sub-20 do Tricolor, disse que Ceni foi o treinador que mais valorizou a base no período em que ele está no comando – de fevereiro de 2015 até agora.

-Já está sendo (integração maior). Sem desmerecer nenhum outro treinador, mas o Rogério até agora em meu tempo de São Paulo foi o treinador que mais deu atenção à base. Veio ver jogos, também pegou uma acervo de vídeos, o que é interessante. Hoje ele conhece a fundo a base, sabe os jogadores que estão à disposição, de meninos que vão ser usados no principal daqui um an, dois – afirmou Jardine, antes do primeiro treino de preparação para a Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior 2017, em Cotia.

– Ele se preparou muito, e a gente só tem a agradecer por essa atenção que tem dado a esse trabalho. Porque ele é feito todo ele para colocar jogadores no São Paulo no time principal. E se o pessoal lá (Barra Funda) não valoriza não tem o porquê de ser disso aqui tudo. Então parabéns ao Rogério por estar sabendo valorizar o coração do São Paulo – completou o treinador do sub-20.

RelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo pode renovar com Reinaldo antes de emprestá-lo à ChapecoenseSão Paulo26/12/2016Futebol NacionalDívida do São Paulo com Michel atrapalha rescisão; Verdão monitoraFutebol Nacional26/12/2016São PauloJornal italiano coloca volante Bruno Henrique na mira do São PauloSão Paulo26/12/2016

Depois que Jardine chegou a base do São Paulo, passaram pelo comando do profissional Muricy Ramalho, Milton Cruz (interino), Juan Carlos Osorio, Doriva, Edgardo Bauza e Ricardo Gomes. O próprio Jardine dirigiu o time em dois jogos entre a saída de Bauza e a chegada de Ricardo.

Jardine agora inicia uma nova etapa do trabalho no sub-20. Isso porque os principais jogadores da categoria, que conquistou cinco títulos este ano, serão promovidos ao profissional por Ceni. O lateral-direito Foguete, os zagueiros Lucas Kal e Tormena, o lateral-esquerdo Júnior, o volante Araruna e o atacante Gabriel Rodrigues. Os destaques, portanto, ficam no meia Shaylon, camisa 10 do time, o volante Militão e o atacante Caíque.

Jardine admite uma pressão maior por resultados por conta do ano maravilhoso do time sub-20, mas vê os atletas preparados para o grande desafio da Copinha. O Tricolor estreia no próximo dia 3, contra o Genus, de Rondônia, em Capivari.

‘É uma expectativa grande, estão bem conscientes disso. A partir de agora, chamamos uma atenção de nosso trabalho. A torcida cria expectativa, de patamar muito alto de cobrança e nível de futebol jogado. Mas eles lidam muito bem com isso porque treinam muito, se preparam muito. É a melhor maneira de lidar com isso, sempre trabalhar com muita tranquilidade e nossa meta é sempre fazer o nosso melhor – analisou Jardine.

Several Aston Villa fans have been reacting to footage of some comments from Dean Smith following the club’s 0-0 draw with Everton on Thursday evening.

Villa defeated the Toffees at Goodison Park earlier this month but failed to find a way through this time around.

Club captain Jack Grealish came on from the bench to make his first appearance for three months, with the point not enough to take Villa back into the top half of the table.

Villa only have one home fixture remaining now, with fans set to return for the visit of Chelsea on the final day.

Smith felt a Villa Park stalemate was a fair reflection of the game, giving his thoughts on Emiliano Martinez matching Brad Friedel’s clean-sheet record, praising Tyrone Mings and outlining European ambitions as well as Grealish’s return.

The full interview with the manager is available to view here.

Villa fans offer mixed reaction

Villa posted the clip on their official Twitter page on Thursday evening, and this is what these supporters had to say in regards to Smith’s comments, with more than one pleading with the boss to cut ties with loanee Ross Barkley.

“Listen to that ambition. Can’t wait for the window.”

Credit: @AaronjGray

“Please, Deano… Pretty please with a cherry on top… send Barkley back to Chelsea and give the kids a chance”

Credit: @ClaretKev1980

“Again you played with one striker. Watkins on his own is like a lost sheep just like Davis was tonight. You’ve got to have 2 strikers on the pitch otherwise we going to struggle next season scoring goals.”

Credit: @Martin10041965

“Please stop playing Barkley.”

Credit: @PrincesaRodeo
“New manager. Please #avfc”

Credit: @Harry34740948

“Deano telling the medical staff to shove it and giving all the villa what we needed, the skippers back inject it”

Credit: @leesalt20

In other news: Villa source drops surprise Friday Bodymoor Heath meeting claim; could be vital for Johan Lange, find out more here.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is heading for a major howler as some eye-opening news emerges from Darsley Park.

What’s the story?

In what has been another difficult Premier League season for the Magpies, one of the big eyebrow raisers of Bruce’s tenure has been the real lack of first-team minutes given to some of the club’s brightest young academy talents.

Barring the Longstaff brothers – even Matty has fallen out of favour this season after his breakthrough Manchester United performance – the Tyneside club haven’t really seen anyone else come through, with Elliot Anderson surely deserving of more opportunities.

And now, some more bad news on the academy front has emerged.

According to Football Insider, fellow Premier League side Spurs have been offered the chance to sign the 16-year-old Bobby Clark, son of former Magpies hero Lee.

The report adds that a Spurs source has revealed “they have been offered the chance in recent weeks via intermediaries to take Clark to London”, and that “the Premier League giants are expected to run the rule over the teenager before making a decision”.

Newcastle fans would be fuming

Called up to the club’s U18s side when he was just 14, Clark has long been touted as one of Newcastle’s best academy players, so news that he’s been offered to Spurs is particularly damaging.

What makes it even worse is the claim that the teenager’s “progress has seemingly stalled”, and that the “youngster has struggled for game time this season after being handed a scholarship deal by the north-east giants”.

While Bruce may not be running the club’s academy, he should have a keen eye over what’s going on, and really should have been on top of something like this, well before these suggestions that a promising young player could just leave.

Magpies fans have already made it clear before, when Clark was linked with Spurs a couple of years ago, that they would want him to stay, so fresh news that he could be set for an exit would surely have them fuming at seeing one of their most highly-rated starlets leave.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

It would be a real howler from Bruce and the Magpies to see the 16-year-old go without first having seen him make an impression on the first-team at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, this Newcastle man was Bruce’s unsung hero vs Leicester…

Some Liverpool fans have been showing their love for Jurgen Klopp after the Reds manager committed his future to the club.

The Premier League champions could only draw 1-1 away to Leeds United on Monday evening, slipping up in the top four battle. In truth, Liverpool didn’t do enough to merit taking home all three points and Diego Llorente’s late headed equaliser was fully deserved.

[freshpress-quiz id=“350790”]

It was a surreal day in the world of football, as talk of a European Super League dominated the news, with huge amounts of negativity regarding it.

Klopp was given the unenviable task of being the first manager put under the spotlight, handling the situation admirably before and after the match. During his post-match duties, the German played down rumours that he was going to walk away from Liverpool if the planned proposal goes through, claiming that isn’t the case:

“I heard today that I will resign but I feel responsible for the team, for the club and for the relationship we have with our fans. I will try to sort it somehow.”

Liverpool fans hail Klopp

These Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to show their love for Klopp, with many highlighting what a special person he is and how lucky the Reds are to have him in charge, with one Kopite describing him as an “unreal human being”.

“Just nearly started crying reading this at my desk, this is how close I am to a breakdown over this, my 9 month old may never witness what I did growing up, no Champions League nights at Anfield to take him to, he won’t be getting any more LFC kits if we’re in the ESL I know that”

Credit: @_Matty723

“Blessed to have this man on board”

Credit: @PrakashGalani08

“I’d do anything for him, unreal human being”

Credit: @DeanEdwards93

“What an amazing human being this man is”

Credit: @MykelMcCann

“Where there’s Klopp, there’s hope”

Credit: @OGBCollins

“My manager”

Credit: @ShanklysBoys1

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy with a transfer story that has emerged regarding an attacking player. Read more here.

Speaking to football.london in a Q&A, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has shed light on Marcel Sabitzer and his possible move to north London this summer. 

The Austrian, who is believed to be a prime target for chairman Daniel Levy and manager Jose Mourinho, has impressed in the Bundesliga but hasn’t signed a contract extension with RB Leipzig.

Gold drops enticing Tottenham summer transfer message

This could put the Lilywhites in a strong negotiating position given his current deal expires in 2022, as Leipzig potentially risk losing him as a free agent at the end of next season.

However, as Spurs reportedly take a keen interest, one supporter seemed concerned whether the 27-year-old would still be a target if the club part ways with under-fire boss Mourinho.

Gold, responding to this query, candidly explained that Sabitzer will be chased regardless of who is at the helm.

“I believe Sabitzer is a target that Spurs have long admired and is also someone Mourinho likes,” explained the journalist (via football.london).

“He would be someone they attempt to sign in the summer regardless of who is manager.”

Transfer Tavern take

News that Spurs will likely be targeting the midfielder, a stance irrelevant to Mourinho’s position, could come as music to the ears of some supporters.

He’s averaged an impressive 2.1 shots and 1 key pass per 90 in Germany this season from midfield, all whilst notching six goals and two assists (WhoScored).

Tottenham arguably still haven’t replaced Christian Eriksen’s creative influence in midfield since the Dane’s departure, with Giovani Lo Celso often in and out the side due to injury.

If Spurs land Sabitzer this summer, the signing could propel Mourinho’s side to another level.

In other news: BBC pundit says these four first teamers will leave Spurs, find out more here.

Fans of Southampton have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed a report regarding the current contract situation of Saints centre-back, Jannik Vestergaard.

According to the report by The Athletic, talks are yet to take place over a new contract for the £60,000-per-week defender, whose contract at St Mary’s expires in the summer of 2022.

The report goes on to mention Vestergaard’s links with a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur, as well as relaying the 28-year-old’s comments in a recent interview with Tipsbladet, in which the Denmark international admitted he was flattered by the reported interest in his services.

And, after Southampton Page relayed the report on Twitter, as well as asking fans of the club whether they feel Vestergaard deserves to be awarded a new contract with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, many of the St Mary’s faithful flocked to have their say on the matter, with the majority appearing to be desperate for the club to tie the £16.2 million-rated man down to a new deal.

So, what exactly did these Southampton fans have to say in reaction to the report regarding Jannik Vestergaard?

“Been a great signing, he deserves a new contract. I’ve no faith in Semmens and Crocker to get a contract agreed. Don’t seem to be able to get things done.”

@ScottHammy87

“He’s been superb and has been really tested this year. He’s a must!”

@bfgfox

“Top three player for the Saints this year. A new 4 year deal for him would be great.”

@mwmiller3471

“Without a doubt. The most improved player over the last year.”

@SimonParkerPT

“No brainer. Special player, just hope we can keep him.”

@MarcRolf1

“Yes, otherwise he’ll be off.”

@toblermoan55

“Deffo, no question about it.”

@Stevewe1965

In other news: lots of Saints fans buzzed at the link with this star who’s ‘better than Redmond’ –  find out more here!