All posts by h716a5.icu

Many Arsenal fans were left furious at the display of Alexandre Lacazette in their away trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

The France international could not really impose himself on the game as he really struggled against Dean Smith’s stubborn defence.

He lost out on no fewer than 86% of his duels in the match and also failed to record a single shot on goal, dribble or cross, as he only managed to have a mere 30 touches of the ball in total, the fewest out of any outfield Gunners player to have started the clash (Sofascore).

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in the squad now, Lacazette may be fearing for his starting place under Mikel Arteta if he continues to put in underwhelming performances like these.

Arsenal fan reaction to Lacazette display

These Gooners slammed the performance of the 29-year-old striker on Twitter, with one member of the Emirates Stadium faithful even going as far as to describe him as ‘anonymous’:

“What’s the point in Lacazette being on the pitch? What does he actually offer??”

Credit: @KieranF10

“Lacazette looks sluggish”

Credit: @GoonerBeReal

“Is Lacazette in this game at all?”

Credit: @oochay_ndu

“I am trying to make sense of where Lacazette is playing cos it’s like we don’t have a striker…”

Credit: @codaigh10

“The Lacazette gas never sat well with me cause games like this he’s just anonymous. Where’s the complete playmaker forward gone?”

Credit: @OTbutInTweets

“Lacazette is not in this game”

Credit: @DANNYOHSO

In other news, find out who else was slammed for his display here!

Celtic bounced back to winning ways after securing an emphatic victory over Kilmarnock last night. The Bhoys triumphed 4-0 thanks to goals from Odsonne Edouard (2), Albian Ajeti and skipper Scott Brown.

Neil Lennon opted for several changes in his starting lineup and they definitely paid off. For instance, Shane Duffy dropped to the bench in favour of 21-year-old Stephen Welsh, who put in an impressive performance at centre-back alongside Kristoffer Ajer.

Another man who is new to the Celtic first team this season, is summer signing David Turnbull, and he is rapidly becoming one of the Hoops’ biggest stars.

David Turnbull vs Kilmarnock

Once again, the 21-year-old proved exactly why he is a rare shining light in a turbulent season for the Bhoys. Turnbull assisted two of his side’s four goals, but also contributed an awful lot more than that as well.

No one came near the Celtic midfielder in terms of creativity, with FotMob revealing that his impressive five chances created were more than anyone else managed on the pitch. The £7,500 per week play-maker ran riot from the engine room against Kilmarnock, making three key passes and completing 100% of long balls and 50% of his attempted crosses.

The rest of his teammates combined for five key passes among themselves, whilst his total of two accurate crosses were as many as everyone else put together.

Turnbull also had two shots on target as he looked to get in on the score-sheet himself, and that desire to get in dangerous positions has been one of the key reasons behind why he has an impressive 11 goals contributions in his debut campaign for the club.

Nick Hammond may be under increasing pressure over his future at the club as head of football operations, but one thing is for sure, he pulled off a masterstroke by landing Turnbull from Motherwell last summer.

Meanwhile, this Celtic player surely impressed Lennon on Tuesday night…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to tie down Edinson Cavani on a new deal at Old Trafford and says he’ll sit down and “speak with him in the near future.”

What’s the word?

Cavani, 34, is currently free to leave the club at the end of the campaign unless he is offered a new contract by Ed Woodward and co, amid reports he is considering the next steps of his career.

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker has been in impressive form for the Red Devils since joining from the Champions League runners-up on a free in October.

However, his current £200k-per-week deal only runs until the summer, but Solskjaer has made it clear he wants to trigger an extension.

When asked about Cavani, who turned 34 earlier this month, the club legend was effusive in his praise for the veteran centre-forward and admitted he has been impressed by his performances.

Talking about his contract situation, Solskjaer said:

“I can only say Edinson has done well. I’ve been impressed by him, he’s really gelled in the group.

“We’ll sit down and speak with him in the near future to see his plans and our plans. It’s a good discussion to have. We always speak to the players.

“And, with his contract situation at the moment, we’re very pleased with what he’s done.”

Get it done

Cavani, who is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, has been Mr Reliable for the Red Devils this season when it comes to goals and assists.

In his sole campaign so far, he’s averaged a solid 0.4 goals per 90 in the Premier League, which is more than the likes of Anthony Martial (0.2) and Mason Greenwood (0.1), respectively.

He’s also still averaging 1.4 shots per game in 17 top-flight appearances despite playing for a team that does not look quite at their best. United may sit second in the table, but domestically they have only won one league game in their past five fixtures.

Former United striker Diego Forlan himself has made it clear just how important he has become to Solskjaer’s side. He said:

“I’m very impressed. It’s a different situation to [Luis] Suárez [at Atletico Madrid] as he had a six-month break without playing. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing a great job and giving him the minutes to thrive.

“He has an important role in the team and is helping the young players at a great club to settle in. He’s helping the team fight for titles which is very important.”I’m confident he will keep getting the minutes, and with his physical strengths, I think he can continue playing for many years.”

With an average WhoScored rating of 6.67, Cavani has continued to impress at Old Trafford, with only Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scoring more goals than him in the Premier League this season.

If United have to pick one player to extend their stay at the Theatre of Dreams, Woodward shouldn’t blink twice before offering him a new deal. It really is that simple.

Cavani’s extension must be a top priority as Solskjaer continues to build a Red Devils side finally capable of challenging for silverware, they don’t come as illustrious and experienced as the six-time Ligue 1 and Champions League runner-up.

AND in other news, Manchester United could look to sell Phil Jones if they sign a replacement this summer…

With Neil Lennon finally departing Parkhead, Celtic are on the lookout for a new manager.

John Kennedy will take interim charge of the side but behind the scenes, the likes of Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell will be frantically trying to find the man who can revive their fortunes.

On the chalkboard

One player who must be front and centre of any Celtic rebuild is David Turnbull. The £3m summer signing from Motherwell has been one of few bright sparks this season.

He has battered away negative press directed at his team with aplomb, finding the net on a regular basis and picking out assists with great regularity.

Since signing for the Hoops, Turnbull has scored eight times, registering six assists in the process. That makes him the team’s third top goalscorer while from a creative point of view, only Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor have more assists out of Celtic’s attackers.

A dream for Martinez

There are few better in the Celtic squad when it comes to keeping possession and using the ball wisely in forward areas than Turnbull.

That should be music to the ears of Roberto Martinez, one of the managers touted with taking on the Hoops job.

The 47-year-old is currently in charge of Belgium so this would be a surprising appointment given they’re the number one ranked team in world football.

Notably, though, the Belgian national team is where he’s used to coaching one of the best playmakers on the planet in Kevin De Bruyne. Of course, it’s difficult to compare such an illustrious footballer to Turnbull but we can compare him to another of Martinez’s former players.

That happens to be Ross Barkley, an individual that the Spaniard had such a huge influence on shaping. It was under Martinez that the attacking midfielder really burst onto the scene and started producing attacking numbers on a regular basis.

Barkley was given what can be described as a free-role just behind the striker at Everton, and in Turnbull, Martinez could craft a very similar player in the same position.

Turnbull was used out wide and in the middle under Lennon but his future surely lies in a central area. Coincidentally, the 21-year-old has very similar stats to the ones that Barkley achieved in his final campaign under the Spanish coach at Goodison Park.

During the 2015/16 season, the England international provided eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League, amassing 2.5 shots, 1.5 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game.

To compare, Turnbull has accumulated 2.2 shots and 2.5 key passes a match in the SPFL this season. With that in mind, he’s certainly a player that’s up Martinez’s street.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-on-celtics-managerial-vacancy” title=”Check out the latest on Celtic’s managerial vacancy!”]

Barkley enjoyed three campaigns under the Celtic linked manager and managed to break into the England side as a result. A big move to Chelsea followed as he very quickly became one of the rising stars in English football.

Turnbull will be hoping that Martinez can improve him in a very similar way. Considering the qualities they both possess, it shouldn’t be out of the question.

AND in other news, Liam Shaw could be an instant hit if Celtic hire 40 y/o who “sets high standards”…

Dele Alli has forced himself back into contention at Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks and, if his impressive form under Jose Mourinho continues, then Giovani Lo Celso could well struggle to get back into the side when he returns from injury.

The England international made just his second league start of the season in Thursday’s 1-0 win against Fulham and played a key part in the only goal of the game, as his effort was diverted into the net by Tosin Adarabioyo.

The former MK Dons man was also superb in the recent 4-0 win against Wolfsberger and looked back to his best as he was involved throughout the game, whilst he also scored a superb overhead kick to open the scoring.

It had looked as if the 24-year-old’s time with Spurs could be coming to an end in the winter transfer window as PSG were heavily linked with a loan move for the attacking midfielder after he was regularly omitted from Mourinho’s matchday squads earlier in the season.

However, Spurs captain Hugo Lloris has suggested recently that Alli has “switched on” following his failed loan move away during the winter transfer window, and he has clearly impressed Mourinho with his performances in training and in the Europa League, slowly but surely starting to feature more regularly in the Premier League.

If his form continues, then it could prove to be bad news for Lo Celso, who is edging closer to a return after missing the last two months with a hamstring injury.

Injury problems have meant that the Argentine international has never really enjoyed a run of games in this Spurs side; and having joined in January last season after an initial loan spell, you could argue that he has become something of an outsider in his time with the club.

Whilst squad depth is no bad thing for Mourinho, he already has the likes of Alli, Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Tanguy Ndombele as options in the attacking midfield position, so it is difficult to see where the former Real Betis man fits in.

The 24-year-old has been limited to just four starts and seven substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, in which he has contributed one goal and one assist, averaging a less than impressive 6.56 WhoScored average match rating.

Last season saw the £31.5m-rated midfielder establish himself as a regular under Mourinho but he struggled to contribute in an attacking sense, managing no goals and just two assists in 28 appearances in the top flight.

Therefore, if Alli can rediscover his goalscoring touch, then you wonder where Lo Celso will fit in, especially with both Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having become mainstays with the Lilywhites this season.

Considering that Atletico Madrid have been linked with a move for him recently, if he cannot force his way into Mourinho’s plans when he returns, then perhaps we will see him depart the north London club in the near future.

And, in other news…  8 passes all game: £18m-rated Spurs gem was anonymous; Jose will be worried

With just one win in their last five Premier League games, it’s fair to say Leeds United have just hit a bit of a roadblock in the second half of this season.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side slipped to yet another defeat in the top flight when they lost 2-0 to West Ham last Monday, with goals from Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson enough to ensure their poor form continued.

One man who really let his manager down in the game at the London Stadium was Helder Costa. The Portuguese winger looked completely off the pace in the game, and it’s a showing that arguably warrants him being dropped from the starting line-up for the clash against Chelsea on early Saturday afternoon.

His long-term future at Elland Road also appears to be in question amid suggestions that, with any potential summer signings, Costa may be one of the fall guys.

Responding to a question in The Athletic’s post-match Q&A after the clash against West Ham, Phil Hay said: “You get the feeling that if changes are coming in the summer, those two (Costa and Tyler Roberts) will be at risk. The consistent impact isn’t there.”

Costa just hasn’t cut it at Premier League level, with a measly return of just two goals in 18 outings in the competition this term. Throwing him into the starting line-up like Bielsa has done over the past couple of weeks has just held Leeds back, and it’s something that former Leeds man Noel Whelan picked up on quite recently.

Speaking after his performance against Aston Villa, the 46-year-old said: “Costa was given his opportunity and once again he did not take it. We are talking about a £16m player here who did not effect the game in any way shape or form. He needs to show consistency. You need to make that position your own when your manager puts his trust in you from the start.

“I saw absolutely nothing from him against Aston Villa. Nothing suggested to me that he has given Marcelo Bielsa a headache with that performance.”

After Costa’s anonymous display against the Hammers, it’s certainly time for Bielsa to ruthlessly axe the £70k-per-week winger from his starting line-up; and that could spell bad news for his long-term future, too, given what Hay has said.

Meanwhile, Bielsa should urge Leeds to make a move for this “talismanic” star…

According to Football Insider, West Ham United are keeping tabs on yet another Slavia Prague sensation in Jan Kuchta – with the attacking hotshot now entering the Irons’ radar as they send scouts to watch his recent performance against Rangers.

Kuchta, who has bagged a prolific 11 goals and five assists in the Fortuna Liga for Slavia Prague, scoring two and assisting two more in the Europa League also (Transfermarkt), is now on GSB’s watchlist as he enters the list of players who have been linked from the Czech Republic side.

West Ham eyeing Kuchta

West Ham have previously been eyeing more signings from Slavia Prague after the successful acquisitions of both Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek – with goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar, known as ‘The Rock’, and Abdallah Sima touted with moves to east London (Claret & Hugh).

Now, Football Insider have revealed that West Ham are also monitoring Kuchta after his impressive campaign – but the Irons may face competition this time.

Transfer Tavern take

Indeed, scouts working for Newcastle United, Southampton and Brighton were also in attendance to watch the 24-year-old in action against Rangers in the Europa League.

Kuchta is Slavia Prague’s second-top scorer in all competitions, and as West Ham potentially have their eye on a striker search in the summer, he could be a prime candidate from a familiar side.

In other news: West Ham are in talks for this 6 foot 2 gem, find out more here.

Former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer has hailed Kalvin Phillips for his positive influence at Elland Road in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Phillips has had to contend with a couple of injuries in his debut Premier League campaign, but the 25-year-old has been available for selection again in recent weeks, which will come as a relief to manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Much like last season, Phillips has been an important player for the Argentinian, making 20 league appearances this term to follow on from the 37 he made prior.

Indeed, the English midfielder is a key asset to this Leeds side, and Palmer believes losing him throughout parts of this campaign has been a blow for the Whites. Speaking about Phillips’ importance to the team, Palmer told FFC:

“He was a big player for him last season and to lose him through injury has been a bit of a blow, and I think that’s why they’ve taken their time to get him back to full fitness.

“But once he gets back to full fitness and he starts firing for them, he’s a big player for them on the pitch, but I think he’s also big in the dressing room for Bielsa. So he’ll be delighted [to have him back].”

Looking at some of Phillips’ numbers, it is no surprise that Bielsa leans on the England international so heavily. In the Premier League this season, he has averaged 2.7 tackles per game, an average only bettered by Liam Cooper (2.8) in Leeds’ squad (via WhoScored).

Phillips is also the team’s long-ball specialist. The Leeds academy graduate is currently averaging 5.3 successful long balls a match, the highest average among Bielsa’s men, showing that he is also a very capable player in possession.

Some Liverpool fans have been providing their thoughts on Nabil Fekir joining the Reds, with a report linking them with their former target.

Back in the summer of 2018, it looked as though Fekir was going to be the latest exciting addition to Liverpool’s squad, with Jurgen Klopp extremely close to snapping him up. A failed medical because of a knee issue saw the move for the Frenchman fall through, however, and it ended up being a transfer that got away.

Liverpool didn’t fare too badly without Fekir added to their squad, though, winning the Champions League in the season that followed before clinching Premier League glory a year later.

[freshpress-quiz id=“306736”]

Now 27 and plying his trade at Real Betis – he moved there from Lyon in 2019 – the attacking midfielder has again been linked with a move to the Reds.

According to Todo Fichajes, Klopp is potentially still keen on bringing him to Anfield and he will likely cost less than before.

It is a move that is hard to see happening, though, considering Fekir turns 28 later this year and the Liverpool manager is known for signing younger players who he can turn into world-beaters.

Liverpool fans don’t want Fekir at Anfield

These Reds supporters reacted to the news on Twitter.

“Why? His injury problems haven’t gone away”

Credit: @b4thekid

“Not unless he found a new knee in Seville”

Credit: @Jonny_Faulkner

“Stop it!! Do not go there!”

Credit: @andymoff86

“How many crocked players do we need?”

Credit: @GhostmanMus

“Zero chance”

Credit: @BigAl130

“Don’t do this to me again”

Credit: @danyoung91

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been calling for one Reds star to leave the club this summer. Find out who it is here.

Plenty of Aston Villa supporters have been reacting to footage shared on social media regarding Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.

The pair both featured for the Three Lions on Thursday evening, with Watkins grabbing the final goal in a 5-0 win at Wembley.

Watkins, who had never featured for England at any level prior to his debut, received the ball on the edge of the area before firing through a defender’s legs and into the far corner.

Numerous Villa supporters took to social media to praise the 25-year-old following his interview after the game, and many more have done so towards the forward and centre-back Mings.

Villa shared slow-motion footage from England on their official Twitter page of Watkins’ goal and subsequent celebrations.

One of the first players to celebrate with Watkins was Mings, along with Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Villa fans react

Villa heaped praise on Mings in the caption and these Villa fans followed suit in showing their love for the towering defender, with one describing the footage as ‘magic’.

“Magic – he’s a major reason behind the dressing room improving at Villa Park”

Credit: @Shy_Rhy

“Wonderful scenes did us proud”

Credit: @UTViIIa

“Love this”

Credit: @danfereday

“Class this is! Gives me Goosebumps man… UTV”

Credit: @AstonVilla_info

“Brilliant!!”

Credit: @clukk74

“Love it two of the best signings we’ve made”

Credit: @GV18271

In other news: Many AVFC fans react to Vila-linked star’s social media activity, find out more here.