Tag Futebol

West Ham supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to the new era at the London Stadium following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the new Hammers manager last month.

The Chilean takes over the reins at the East London outfit following the departure of David Moyes, who left the club at the expiration of his contract despite leading the Hammers to a 13th place finish in the Premier League. However, the club’s hierarchy decided against extending his stay as manager and have instead drafted in former Manchester City chief Pellegrini, who led the Citizens to the league title, and indeed two League Cup triumphs, during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

As such, there are many excited and indeed expectant West Ham fans in the Tavern at present, several of whom are likely to be interested by recent reports suggesting that Danny Ings is free to leave Liverpool this summer.

And with the Hammers struggling in the striking department last season, Pellegrini would solve a key problem at the London Stadium with the addition of the available £7.2 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt).

Ultimately, while West Ham didn’t have the worst offensive record in the top-flight last term, they will have to improve upon their tally of 48 goals in their 38 Premier League games if they are to move forward and perhaps challenge for the European spots this time round.

How far will England get in Russia? Tell us now

Marko Arnautovic was the only man to reach double figures last season in netting 11 times for the Hammers, which itself further emphasises their difficulties, as does the fact that Andre Ayew, who left the club in January to move to Swansea City, finished as their third highest goal-scorer with six.

Thus, Pellegrini has to address that this summer if he is to take the East London club to the next level, and 25-year-old Ings could well give him the answer.

The one-time England international has only mustered 24 senior appearances for Liverpool since his move there back in 2015, with injuries decimating his time at Anfield after what was a promising spell at Burnley to earn him a move to Merseyside.

Nonetheless, one mustn’t forget that Ings scored 11 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for the Clarets back in the 2014/15 season to underline his credentials in the top-flight, with that return in particular earning him that solitary England cap in the autumn of 2015.

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Yes, there will be obvious concerns among our resident Hammers fans given that Ings has not played much football in the last few years, but he certainly looked sharp in the latter stages of last season when turning out for Liverpool, and showed a predatory instinct in front of goal at Burnley which is unlikely to ever leave him.

As such, with the East London outfit clearly in need of further attacking reinforcements, alongside Ings’ desire to leave Liverpool, Pellegrini must seek to solve a key West Ham problem by capturing the 25-year-old this summer.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Reports on Wednesday have confirmed that Achraf Lazaar will cut his loan spell with Benevento short and return to Newcastle United.

Conflicting stories have emerged, with some media sources suggesting that his current club Benevento had frozen him out of first team proceedings in Italy. However, these sources then retracted this claim, suggesting that the arrival of Bacary Sagna at Serie A’s bottom club means that Lazaar is surplus to requirements.

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Signed in the summer of 2016 by Rafael Benitez, Lazaar failed to make any impact during his first season on Tyneside. Appearing just four times from the bench in the league during Newcastle’s Championship winning campaign, the Moroccan struggled to impress his manager or the fans.

However, if reports are to be believed, the 26-year-old may be given a second chance at St James’ Park upon his imminent return.

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After hearing the news, Newcastle fans took to Twitter to express their thoughts on Lazaar’s homecoming…

England’s World Cup campaign didn’t kick off as planned as their spirited team performance wasn’t enough to overcome the might of the ever-reliable Italians.

But fear not young worriers, a lack of points at this stage is no drama. There was plenty in England’s first outing in Brazil to suggest they have more than enough to progress through their very own ‘group of death’.

With Uruguay and Costa Rica to follow, on paper England are the better side. And whilst football isn’t a game played on paper, the paper can give us a real good indication as to why this group of English players, and you English supporters, should have no fears in the upcoming fixtures.

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Click on Sterling to see the FIVE reasons why England will escape Group D

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We Can Pass!

Everyone knows that passing is the new scoring, right? The statsgasm on Twitter in recent days has been relentlessly positive surrounding England’s showing in their first match against Italy, and the figures suggest this is a side that is progressing. After the first round of group games, England were second only to Italy in the pass completion percentage statistics, and had the highest pass percentage in the opposition half of all teams.

With players like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, and Ross Barkley, England can go into their final two matches in Group D knowing that they have the players available to them to take the initiative, keeping the ball away from the opponents and fashioning out chances by probing in dangerous areas.

We Will Score!

Against Italy we may not have created the most clear-cut of goalscoring opportunities, but once more the stats showed that England’s 18 shots were more than any other side. Despite many of these not being ‘chances’ as such, the fact the players were willing to work the goalkeeper was a positive thing.

They came up against a traditionally well-disciplined Italian defence, and weren’t afraid to pull the trigger if an opening presented itself. Obviously, their conversion percentage wasn’t anywhere near the best of the sides in the tournament, but you have to assume that neither Uruguay nor Costa Rica will be nearly as sturdy as Cesare Prandelli’s men. If our boys continue showing similar intent, they’ll likely come out more successful than before.

Luis Suarez Injury

 

While the World Cup is all about the best players in the world showing what they can do, England fans and players alike will not want to see Luis Suarez line up against them.

The uncertainty surrounding his knee following an operation a month ago will fill everyone with added positivity. The Liverpool striker was one of England’s biggest worries before the tournament, but having not played since the final day of the Premier League season, it would be fair to predict that he won’t be at his sharpest.

Without one half of their talismanic frontline, Uruguay will be half as deadly. And that can only work in England’s favour.

Squad Depth

 

Never before in recent memory has an England squad possessed so many players with the ability to individually change a game. Against Italy the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Sturridge and Sterling were on the pitch, wonderfully complemented by the work and effectiveness of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. With the likes of Barkley, Lallana, Frank Lampard, Rickie Lambert, and Jack Wilshere on the bench, Hodgson has a whole plethora of players to turn to in times of need.

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The impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may struggle to find fitness for the Uruguay game, but he should be back in time for Costa Rica. His direct and powerful dribbling can help change the momentum of a game. We shouldn’t have to worry about our options from the bench.

No More Italy

 

Quite simply, Italy have been one of the best outfits so far at the World Cup. Their ball retention in midfield is second to none, and their compact defensive shape made them incredibly frustrating to break down. What’s more, they looked to have attacking quality in all areas. Mario Balotelli had a quiet game, but impressed when called upon.

The right-back Matteo Darmian was a constant menace to Leighton Baines, and Antonio Candreva drifted in and out of spaces causing no ends of problems. England won’t face a similar side to Italy again in Group D. Costa Rica and Uruguay are very different from Italy, and have glaring weaknesses in their sides, whereas Italy are well-rounded.

England can rely on Italy to take points from their rivals in the next two games, so there should be no worries about results going the wrong way. The toughest challenge has been and gone. The next two games will be much simpler tasks.

For those younger football fans among us, the art of tackling is something we have never been able to appreciate in all its full-throttle glory. Any slightest hint of contact can often leave a player with a booking, forced to walk on a tightrope for the rest of the match.

After the crunching challenges of yesteryear, tackling is now viewed as a last resort by many players; with interceptions now the preferred method to win the ball back.

A player like Michael Carrick is often criticised for his reluctance to tackle, but he can still be effective in winning the ball back; with his number of interceptions reportedly being the highest in the Champions League in 2010-11, with 48, according to FourFourTwo.

Interceptions appear to be cleaner and run a much lower risk of a booking or sending off if mistimed. This is one of the reasons why tackling is gradually being phased out of the game; another being the factor of inconsistency among referees as to what constitutes as a fair challenge and what is deemed as reckless.

The most recent high-profile example comes from the clash between Liverpool and Manchester United, where Jonjo Shelvey and Jonny Evans launched into a 50-50 challenge for the ball.

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Referee Mark Halsey judged Shelvey as the guilty party and assumingly assessed that the Liverpool midfielder had endangered Evans’ safety with the challenge, but those of us who saw the tackle would find it difficult to find one party guiltier than the other. It would be hard to imagine such a challenge being deemed worthy of sending off 10 years ago, especially not before the 1990s.

It seems that as football becomes more continental, fewer challenges of a more physical nature are allowed on the pitch, something which definitely favours the country’s more skilful players, but hinders those whose jobs it is to stop goalscoring opportunities.

Some say that play-acting and diving has also contributed to the downfall of tackling; with forward players now seeking to con officials by going down too easily.

Therefore, professionals of yesteryear would not last a minute in the modern day game – can you imagine how many red cards legendary 70s Leeds hardman, Billy Bremner or former Wimbledon defender Vinnie Jones would receive in a season?

It all seems to mean that the days of tackling are now gradually coming to an end, but perhaps we should not become too downbeat about the situation, with many defenders now viewing staying on their feet as a particular skill. Players like Rio Ferdinand now see making tackles as a last-ditch option, something which would only arise if he had not of read the game well enough.

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So in future, defensive players may strive to make the perfect interception rather than the perfect tackle as football evolves into more of a non-contact sport.

You can follow me on twitter: @JamesHilsum

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Everton may have finally found Leighton Baines’ replacement, and fans want a deal done as soon as possible for Bayer Leverkusen’s Wendell.

According to Sky Sports, Everton want 24 year-old Wendell to succeed Baines on their left flank.

The Leverkusen left back scored twice and assisted three more in 26 Bundesliga appearances last season, and like Baines he knows how to take a great set piece.

Marco Silva is on the hunt for summer reinforcements, but the Toffees’ massive summer spending spree last year might prevent them from going all out this summer, as Silva and new director of football Marcel Brands work together to try and trim the squad and wage bill.

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German left back Marvin Plattenhardt has also been linked with a move to Goodison, but the Brazilian Wendell is younger, faster and absolutely loves bombing down the left flank just like Baines.

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The 24 year-old averaged one key pass per game last season, while also averaging over two tackles and one interception per game.

Fans have been reacting to the links on Twitter, and it seems they’re desperate to get a quality replacement in for their ageing fan favourite. You can find some of the best reactions down below…

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers have opened talks with James Tavernier over extending his current contract at Ibrox, which runs out in 2019.

What’s the story?

Rangers’ recruitment appears to have turned a corner in recent months with fans delighted at their January business and finally hopeful of the future under manager Graeme Murty.

Just as important though is retaining their key stars, with contracts for a number of first team players expiring either this summer or next.

One of those players is James Tavernier, whose current contract runs out in 2019.

Rangers though appear to be pro-active in keeping him at the club with boss Murty revealing that they have opened contract talks with the player, who is rated as worth £585,000 by Transfermarkt.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the Rangers manager said:

There are ongoing discussions with James. As far as I am aware he loves it here. I actually had a chat with him about full backs in England and the manner in which they approach training and their life. I personally think he is the best right back in the country. He possesses physical and technical attributes of the highest standard. We have to then get the rest of him up to that standard. If we do that then even though we are discussing a contract with him now, his aims could be fulfilled by him maximising what he does

Clearly Murty is a fan, but just how important is keeping him at the club?

What does he offer the team?

There’s no doubting that there are question marks at times about Tavernier’s ability to defend under pressure. His positioning and lack of discipline has been a real issue at Rangers from day one. That’s likely the ‘rest of him’ that needs improving according to Graeme Murty.

However, Murty is also correct to assert how vital he is to Rangers, with his attacking efforts on the right flank often the side’s main outlet to get the ball forward and create chances in the final third.

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With the arrival of Declan John, Rangers now have two excellent attacking full-backs at Scottish Premiership level.

At 26 years of age, a new contract would ensure Tavernier is at the club for his peak years as a footballer and protects his transfer value too. It’s something that should be and clearly is a priority for the Light Blues in the coming months.

Most Manchester United fans balked at the prospect of signing of Leighton Baines last summer. Baines was seen as an ageing full-back who, was overvalued, and overrated.

And while there’s no doubt that David Moyes’ interest in his former defender was unimaginative, there’s good reason to believe that Moyes would still be Manchester United manager if he got his man. In this context, last summers transfer mishap may be perceived as the best thing that could have happened for the club.

Full-backs tend to be relatively less influential than players in other positions. It’s often said that you don’t need great full-backs to have a great team. Last season for instance, Manchester United won the Premier League by 11 points with two defensively suspect full-backs, one who was past his best, and another lacking in maturity.

This is not the case for teams managed by David Moyes. The Scot likes his central midfielders to stay behind the ball, and seeks creation through the channels, where his wide players are instructed to overload the opposition full-backs in order to gain an advantage. This isn’t a bad tactic, as a lot of wide midfielders in modern football are hybrid forwards who tend not track back as diligently as traditional wingers.

For Moyesball to work, David Moyes needs full-backs that are capable of getting up and down the flanks and putting quality delivers into the box. Neither of Manchester United’s full-backs are capable of both. Evra can put in a decent delivery, but doesn’t get back at the speed necessary. And Rafael has the energy to patrol the flank, but is an unreliable crosser of the ball.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that Moyes targeted both Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman during his time at Old Trafford, as they are better than their Manchester United counterparts in both regards. And it’s quite possible that if Moyes had been able to bring Baines in last summer, he’d still be manager of Manchester United.

This season, Baines has created 45 chances in 30 games, putting him second behind Kevin Mirallas in the creation stakes at Everton. This is 8 more than Evra has managed so far this year, which while significant, is not spectacular.

However, these stats have to be put into context of the type of football being played. Last year, under Moyesball, Baines created 116 chances in his 38 Premier League games, an average of more than 3 per game. Evra, by contrast, created 24 chances in his 34 games.

This tells us two things: firstly, Evra created more chances when playing in a Moyes system which gives greater creative responsibility to the full-backs, but more importantly, secondly, that we would expect Leighton Baines to have created significantly more than Evra has if Moyes had been successful in bringing him to Manchester United.

If Baines had played for David Moyes’ Man United as he did for David Moyes’ Everton, we would have seen the team create an average of two more goalscoring opportunities per game. This could potentially have a massive difference on United’s league position, and we’d certainly expect them to be a lot higher than 7th.

Given the feeling that the Manchester United board would have supported Moyes if he was even in contention for Champions League qualification, it’s quite likely he’d still be in job if he’d been able to sign Baines. In this context, many Manchester United fans may feel like their shambolic summer transfer dealings were a blessing in disguise.

Most have come to the conclusion that David Moyes was not right for Manchester United – Moyes played limited, defensive football and Manchester United are a club about pushing boundaries.

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But if we make that argument, we’d have to conclude that Mourinho wasn’t right for Man United either. And there were very few making that argument last summer, and even fewer now given everything that’s happened in between.

The fact is, David Moyes didn’t have the players required to play the style of football he wanted to. He first attempted to persist in insolence, and then sought to compromise. Neither worked, and David Moyes failed. But his failure owes more to an inability to bring in the players he needed, than any sort of ideological mismatch.

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The message delivered by Ivan Gazidis at the clubs annual general meeting was simple. The Gunners will strive to maintain their position amongst the European football elite and ‘win’ trophies. Whatever that constitutes at the Emirates Stadium nowadays. It s widely considered that a lack of silverware since their FA Cup win in 2005 is the main reason for discontent in the stands, and Arsene Wenger’s assertion that qualifying for the Champions League ranks above lifting the FA Cup won’t quell the unrest. Gazidis did say that the North London club’s prospects will be much brighter in 2014 when the Financial Fair Play rulings become strictly enforced. But will supporters accept two more years of putting a top four finish ahead of laying down a concerted effort to end their seven year run without a cup win? It was noted that Wenger has money in the bank to spend on new players and it may be worth waiting to see how he goes about moulding a squad capable of competing with the European elite.

This week on FFC do the Gunners and England miss Jack Wilshere and could Theo Walcott be set for a surprise move to Merseyside in January?

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Best of WEB

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Arsenal Really Ready to swoop for £20million Spaniard? – Transfer Tavern

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Quote of the Week

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“In the next two years, we will have the financial resources to sit and compete among the leading clubs in the world, which is an extraordinary achievement. Financial success is relevant because it supports our football vision… the money we make is made available to our manager and he decides how to invest those funds. Arsene has done a magnificent job against the spending of our major competitors.” Chief executive Ivan Gazidis outlines Arsenal’s ambitions

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Featured Video

Liverpool supporters have been left reeling by the breakdown in talks between the Reds and Lyon over the transfer of star talent Nabil Fekir.

As reported by the BBC, the French club announced that he will not be moving to Anfield and will in fact will be staying with his current side in 2018/19.

His signing had previously thought to be imminent, with Liverpool fans excited about what he could bring to Jurgen Klopp’s starting eleven next season.

Now the German will either have to move onto other talents or risk counting on a late move for the midfielder later on in the transfer window after the World Cup in Russia.

Fekir had a phenomenal season in France last season, scoring 23 goals and providing 9 assists, the kind of direct goal contribution that could have made him a real fan favourite at Anfield.

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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…

As reported by The Daily Mail, Newcastle United are considering making a loan move for Borussia Dortmund attacker Andre Schurrle this January.

What’s the story?

Schurrle has found himself on the fringes of the Borussia Dortmund first team this season, making just six Bundesliga appearances and struggling with injuries throughout.

The Daily Mail report that Borussia Dortmund are ready to offer him on loan to English Premier League sides this month and are even willing to pay half of his £150,000-a-week wages.

The paper say that Newcastle and Stoke City are interested in such a move, with both clubs looking for fresh options in attack in the second half of the season.

Can he be the man that revitalises Rafa Benitez’s threadbare Newcastle squad?

What can he offer?

As reported by The Mail, Schurrle moved to Borussia Dortmund from Wolfsburg for £25m in 2016 on a five-year deal but thus far has failed to live up to his billing as an elite talent in German football.

With just five goals and six assists in a season and a half in all competitions, Dortmund fans would probably have been expecting more from such a high profile deal.

However, he still has plenty to offer a side like Newcastle, who aren’t exactly blessed with lots of options in attack at the moment.

With the versatility to play on either flank or through the middle in attack, he could perform a variety of roles for Rafa Benitez and during his time at other German clubs and for the national team has proven he can find the net on a consistent basis.

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He of course has Premier League experience with Chelsea too, meaning he wouldn’t find it too hard to blend in mid-season.

On loan, signing him would be a relatively low risk move and if he hits top form he could be an excellent addition indeed.

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