All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller can use the east London outfit’s failed bids to sign a new forward this summer to his advantage after a poor start to the season.

Haller has found himself an outcast of boss David Moyes’ Premier League plans thus far this term, with the Scottish coach only awarding the 26-year-old a mere 29 minutes on the field spread over four substitute appearances.

The Frenchman, whom the Irons signed for a club-record £45million only a year ago, has also only managed to enter the action for the final two minutes of regular time in each of West Ham’s last three top-flight fixtures despite boasting four goals and an assist in three Carabao Cup run outs.

He further struck home during his late cameo against Wolverhampton Wanderers to round out the scoring in a 4-0 rout, heading home Arthur Masuaku’s delivery for his first Premier League strike since February’s 3-1 win at home to Southampton.

Haller, who TransferMarkt now only value at £27m after a further £5.4m decline this month, must now use West Ham’s failed efforts to sign a new striker to his advantage with Michail Antonio the only other centre-forward currently in east London.

Antonio has deservedly held the starting role in West Ham’s opening four Premier League games, with the 30-year-old offering more than his two goals through the Irons’ most shots (11), successful dribbles (8) and ground duels won (24), plus the second-most aerial duels won (14) and the fourth-highest number of accurate passes in the final third (21), per SofaScore.

Should Antonio ever prove ineffective, however, it will be Haller who Moyes is forced to call on, having seen hopes of signing AFC Bournemouth’s Joshua King fall flat when the Cherries snubbed a £13m offer.

West Ham also saw efforts and hopes to sign Gaetan Laborde from Montpellier, Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea, Luka Jovic from Real Madrid, Josh Maja from Bordeaux and Sardar Azmoun from Zenit St. Petersburg fail to materialise in adding depth to Moyes’ offence this summer.

Haller will have a slim line of chances to impress Moyes outside of training now that West Ham have fallen out of the Carabao Cup after defeat at Everton, with the Irons not entering the FA Cup until the FA Cup Third Round in January.

Thus the £100,881-per-week Frenchman must utilise his brief cameo outings and time in training to set the right example of his talents to Moyes, otherwise Haller will be nothing more than a benchwarmer until the winter market arrives and West Ham can look to right the wrongs of the summer window.

AND in other news, West Ham potentially saved £16m in being snubbed by a summer target.

Manchester United have been chasing Jadon Sancho for more than three years now but nothing has materialised as of yet. 

Sancho has informed Borussia Dortmund that he intends to return to England, according to ESPN. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made it clear that the 20-year-old is his top priority amid interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Recent reports have suggested that Man United are the only club he will be able to join this summer. German publication Bild, as per talkSPORT, claims BVB will let him leave for £117m. Although the Premier League champions are monitoring the situation, the Red Devils are reportedly his only possible destination.

Sky Sports have now revealed that United will not pay more than £50m for the winger, which is short of Dortmund’s valuation.

Sancho, who is the club’s top scorer this season, has scored 17 goals and created 16 assists in the Bundesliga so far, although Lucien Favre failed to win the coveted title. Everything hinges on where Jude Bellingham will end up as the Birmingham City star is expected to choose between the two clubs in a matter of weeks.

However, the Bundesliga outfit are doubtful that anyone will be able to pay their asking price for Sancho, and United have already started drafting a list of possible replacements in case they can’t sign him in the summer.

Ed Woodward has insisted that fans should not expect the board to splash the cash in the transfer market due to the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.

Failing to sign Sancho would be a personal blow for Solskjaer, as he is adamant that the England international is at the top of his list of transfer targets.

United are unwilling to meet Dortmund’s demands, which could pave the way for one of their rivals to take advantage of the situation. As newly-crowned champions, Liverpool are entitled to a bumper payday, and they may seize the opportunity to steal a march on the Red Devils in the chase for the 20-year-old winger.

United fans, do you think the board will sign Jadon Sancho in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Celtic appear to have entered the race for a Premier League regular and it could be a smart move considering the uncertain futures of two of Neil Lennon’s key players.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Shane Duffy has held talks with the Hoops boss over a possible one-year loan deal at Parkhead.

They do face competition from a host of other Premier League clubs though, including West Ham, West Brom and Burnley.

It’s thought that the 28-year-old would be keen on a season in the SPFL but the fine details of the potential move still have to be ironed out between the two teams.

Forget Jullien

Lennon could have an interesting dilemma on his hands this summer as both of his starting centre-backs are wanted men.

Norweigan colossus Kristoffer Ajer is reportedly admired by Serie A giants AC Milan and could garner in excess of £20m, according to The Sun, whilst Christopher Jullien is thought to be on Napoli’s shortlist, as per Corriere dello Sport.

It’s the latter they could probably do with offloading if push comes to shove. He’s been a little inconsistent since joining the club last summer and there are some doubts over his suitability to the league.

Bhoys legend Frank McAvennie recently blasted the 27-year-old following the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, telling him to “grow a set” before adding: “Jullien has got to learn because that is Dykes and this boy Kabamba that have given him a hard time.”

Duffy would be an intriguing replacement for him – that’s if former Celtic midfielder Roy Keane’s endorsement is anything to go by. The Northern Irishman was dubbed a “big strong boy” who’s a threat in “both boxes”.

Despite playing a bit-part role under Graham Potter this year, the Seagulls chief is still a massive fan of the £8.55m-rated defender. He once said: “He’s been first class around the place. He’s a great example for us. Nobody was happier than him after the Arsenal win. He’ll always fight and compete for you.”

A year on loan north of the border would be pretty decent going for all parties involved.

AND in other news, English talisman would be the perfect heir to Odsonne Edouard…

Former Leeds and Middlesbrough striker Noel Whelan has cast doubt on Steve Bruce’s future as Newcastle manager in comments made to Football Insider.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Bruce admitted that he is “in the dark” over the prospective takeover at St James’ Park but insisted that he would “love to be part of it” if the proposed deal is successful.

However, Whelan believes that the would-be owners will already have big plans in place for the Tyneside club and that a decision will have already been made over the 59-year-old. He said of Bruce:

“He knows his job isn’t concrete, that’s what I think he knows. There are big plans for Newcastle, there’s a lot of exciting names being bandied about players who might come into the club.

“Who wouldn’t want to be the manager taking over a Gareth Bale or Edison Cavani, all these players being tipped to come in. Who wouldn’t think they wouldn’t do very well? I think I’d do very well as well and I’ve got no managerial experience! It’s like going into Harrods with a blank chequebook, it’s fantastic, you’d love it, you’d have great fun.

“I think he knows his job is under pressure, Pochettino’s one that seems to be the favourite and the thing is its kind of out of his hands. The thing is he’s got to finish the season as well as he can possibly can for his own sake because it’s his club that he supports.

“If it’s not going to be him, he’s going to walk away with his head held high. It’s out of his hands, the new owners will make that decision if not already made that decision. I think they will have already realised and made a decision on Steve Bruce’s future.”

It is perhaps fair to say that Bruce has guided the Magpies in a relatively decent season so far, as they sit rather comfortably in 13th place in the Premier League table on 35 points at the moment, eight points above the relegation zone with nine games left for them to play, as per BBC. They are also still in the FA Cup with a home match against Manchester City still left to play, assuming that competition does eventually resume.

In 35 games in all competitions this campaign, Bruce’s side have won 12, drawn 10 and lost 13, scoring 39 goals and conceding 52, according to Transfermarkt.

However, despite his respectable return, Bruce may be asked to make way by the new owners and Whelan believes that his fate may have already been sealed. Granted, the Englishman is technically not their appointment, and so the Saud-led consortium may be looking for a fresh new face to take charge of the Toon in time for the next term – if their bid to take over from current owner Mike Ashley eventually goes through.

Geordies, how do you think Bruce has fared this season? Comment below with your views!

Key information about Vicarage Road

Vicarage Road was built in 1922 and is now the home of Watford FC. The ground is located in Watford in Hertfordshire and has been the Hornets’ safe haven ever since it was erected.

Its current capacity is 21,577 and it has a pitch that measures 105m by 68m. As with most Premier League outfits, the surface is covered with a hybrid turf with undersoil heating installed and no running track surrounding it.

The record attendance of 34,099 was set for Watford’s clash with Manchester United back in 1969.

A history of Vicarage Road

Before moving to Vicarage Road in 1922, Watford were playing their football over at Cassio Road. Once the construction was finalised, the stadium was then officially opened by Col. Charles Healey of Benskins Brewery in August that same year. The first game to be played at the new ground was the clash against Millwall on 30 August.

Interestingly enough, even though it is now exclusively connected to Watford, Vicarage Road hosted other tenants throughout its history. In the early years after the ground was constructed, Wealdstone F.C would call it home until 1994 and then, between 1997 and 2013, rugby union side Saracens were also housed there.

Back then, in the early years, Vicarage Road consisted only of two small covered stands and several terraces. Not only that but the Union Stand had been brought from the club’s former ground Cassio Road. The first improvements started about 10 years later when the Union Stand got replaced by the Shrodells Stand.

Later on, in the 1950s and 1960s, there was a development on the stadium that also included a 1969 extension of the Main Stand. The Shrodells Stand was replaced once again, this time by a new two-tiered Rous Stand that also introduced corporate facilities to the ground.

Just like every other stadium in the top two leagues, Vicarage Road had to be converted into an all-seater in the early 1990s and following the Taylor report, two new stands were built at both ends of the ground. About a decade later, the original part of the main stand was closed in 2004 and then completely demolished in 2010.

It wouldn’t be until 2014 when the new Sir Elton John Stand opened, a tribute to the famous musician who was a lifelong supporter of the club and even their chairman in 1976. After the Hornets were promoted into the top-flight, the stand got expanded with additional rows of seating as well.

There were further expansions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, with plans to boost the capacity of Vicarage Road to approximately 30,000 seats.

Tickets to watch Watford at Vicarage Road

All tickets to watch Watford play at Vicarage Road can be found and purchased on the club’s official website. The cost will vary depending on multiple factors but an average adult ticket costs around £40.

Watford also offer a season ticket scheme as well as memberships that can give you more favourable prices throughout the season.

Related links

https://www.watfordfc.com/ – Official website of Watford FC

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/watfordfc/ – Watford FC Ticket Office

Former Leeds United boss Neil Warnock has caused a stir in west Yorkshire as he quite often does with his latest comments surrounding the Whites’ current promotion plight.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the divisive veteran said:

“There is so much at stake for clubs throughout the leagues.

“That applies to Truro City and it applies to Leeds and West Brom and Plymouth and Exeter and Swindon and Rotherham and Oxford United and Portsmouth.

“Those are just the clubs at the top. Surely, you just play it to a finish, whenever that may be, even if it’s the end of the year.”

And even though his remarks were rather favourable on Marcelo Bielsa’s side gaining promotion, it’s still led to fans being torn over their ex-manager.

The 71-year-old was only in charge of the Elland Road outfit for the 2012/13 season but did possess a horrible squad of players, one that he had promised promotion with, so supporters have clearly had an issue with him ever since he was sacked.

Here’s how they have been reacting to his latest comments on social media…

AND in other news, Ayala report spells trouble for Leeds favourite…

Having arrived from PSV in the January transfer window for a fee of around £27m, Steven Bergwijn enjoyed an impressive debut for Tottenham.

The Dutchman marked his first game for the club with a superb volley to open the scoring in a 2-0 win over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, with Jose Mourinho waxing lyrical about his strike after the game.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

All in all, he has two goals from his opening seven games for the Lilywhites, and he has certainly shown signs of being an inspired signing – particularly at the reasonable price that Spurs paid to bring him in from the Netherlands.

And after a compilation video was posted on Twitter of his best moments, fans of the north London side flooded to the replies section to rave about one of their most recent arrivals.

One Spurs fan in particular claimed that his debut against City showed what he is all about, and revealed they couldn’t wait to see more of him.

It’s no surprise to see many Spurs fans so excited about what Bergwijn can bring to the table for both now and for the future.

The Dutchman clearly has a lot of quality, and with him being a mid-season arrival, the north London side will surely only see the best of him next campaign.

But he promises to be one of the most exciting signings the club have made in recent memory.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans react to this PL star’s admission.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to a new report coming from Tuttosport, Juventus are preparing to part ways with Mario Mandzukic who is bound to go to Manchester United in January. But this transfer might actually hurt their big star, Cristiano Ronaldo.

What’s the word, then?

Tuttosport claim it’s the Croatian’s dream to go to United as soon as possible.

Not only that but they also believe he wants to depart for England in December already so that he can have a month to get used to the new environment and settle into his new club.

Watch Italian Football Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Of course, the transfer wouldn’t be official until January, which is when the winter transfer window will open, but Mandzukic would get a good head start.

And with the same source claiming the forward is not even training with the squad anymore, the separation seems inevitable. But it could also negatively affect their big star.

A helping hand

Ronaldo doesn’t really need a special introduction, does he?

The Portuguese superstar is a name well-known to the footballing world but despite his incredible quality, we still haven’t seen the very best of him this season.

After all, he has “only” bagged six goals and two assists in 14 games played for Juventus across all competitions.

And the reason behind his struggles could very well be linked with Mandzukic’s disappearance from the scene. If we look back at Ronaldo’s days at Real Madrid, we can remember how he always had Karim Benzema next to him.

The Frenchman did the dirty part of the work, often setting up goals, releasing Ronaldo or just enabling him to do what he does best – score goals.

This is something the player himself addressed before when talking to RMC Sport (via Goal), stating:

“Here, the finisher was Cristiano. I played a different role. I was involved more in the construction of moves and trying to open up spaces. For me, he was the best goalscorer even if he played on the left. I moved away to open up space and let him score.”

Most of the glory would go to him, granted, but Benzema was the unsung hero of that partnership. And now that the Portuguese star is no longer at Real Marid, Benzema is firing on all cylinders, already scoring 11 goals for Los Blancos across all competitions.

So in a way, Mandzukic could represent Benzema for Ronaldo over in Italy.

Someone who’s a work-horse if nothing else; someone who will gladly do the dirty work so that the big star can bag all those goals.

Last season, the Croat managed to record 33 games under his belt across all competitions and Ronaldo’s tally was reminiscent of his old days with 28 goals in 43 games.

Maybe there is a connection here after all and for that reason, Juventus might lose much more than just an ageing star if they really let Mandzukic go to Manchester United.

Mateusz Klich has been a key member of Marcelo Bielsa’s team since the Argentine took over but this season he has split opinion a little amongst the Leeds fanbase.The recent impressive performances of Tyler Roberts have played a role in that, causing some supporters to call for the Poland international to be dropped, but Klich’s display against Luton showed what he is all about.[ad_pod ]And it wasn’t just because he made the pivotal pass which resulted in the winning goal, as his all-round game was the subject of praise.In particular, it was his skill on the ball that has been highlighted, with fans particularly fond of his ability to keep possession as well as his fine first touch and intelligence – managing 85.5% pass accuracy.Such are his performances this season that one fan wished Leeds had another Klich in the team in order to give the 29-year-old a rest, and that underlines his importance to the way Leeds play.Here are some supporter reactions discussing how good he has been this term, including Saturday’s showing against the Hatters.

Meanwhile, not everyone performed well against the Hatters, with one player bearing the brunt of criticism from Leeds fans.

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after they heard that Mark Clattenburg had said Wilfried Zaha “clearly dived” to win a penalty against Arsenal in Sunday’s 2-2 draw, and they don’t seem too happy.

“VAR left me puzzled at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. I’m still lost as to why they got involved to award Crystal Palace a penalty against Arsenal when, in my opinion, Wilfried Zaha clearly dived. Referee Martin Atkinson was right to book the Palace man for simulation.”

Now, to give you some context, Clattenburg isn’t really a well-liked figure amongst those at Selhurst Park.

His decision to disallow Connor Wickham’s goal against Manchester United in the 2016 FA Cup final after refusing to play advantage, as well as a similar moment when Joel Ward burst through, were controversies that he later admitted to being disappointed with.

The Eagles didn’t win a single one of their 15 Premier League games officiated by Clattenburg, and the man himself said that he felt Palace fans had something against him when discussing that same FA Cup final in an interview with The Daily Mail.

“It was Palace as well, and their fans had a thing about me.”

After VAR helped Martin Atkinson reverse his decision to book Zaha for diving against Arsenal, Clattenburg’s insistence that the Ivorian did in fact con the officials hasn’t gone down too well with the Palace fans on Twitter – unsurprisingly given the history between the south Londoners and Clattenburg.

Let’s take a look at some of the tweets…