All posts by h716a5.icu

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter in disagreement after a mix-up between Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk allowed ex-Red Ryan Babel to steal in and grab an equaliser in the 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

Of course, a late James Milner penalty earned Jurgen Klopp’s side all three points, but the defensive howler between the aforementioned pair had the away section inside Craven Cottage quaking with nerves.

Jurgen Klopp has gotten quite inventive with his excuses this season. FFC’s James Jones think he has no one but himself to blame for Liverpol’s poor form in the video below…

After a slice from Milner, Van Dijk attempted to head the ball back to Alisson with Babel lurking in search of an opportunity, and his luck was in after the Dutch international headed awkwardly towards the Brazilian stopper, who allowed the ball to squirm past him.

Whilst both were somewhat at fault, as well as Milner, the Reds fans on Twitter are undecided as to who was mostly to blame for the error.

Let’s see what the Liverpool fans are saying about the situation on Twitter…

Celtic fans will be jubilant now that the news has been confirmed that Kieran Tierney has pulled out of the Scotland squad. The young left-back didn’t feature in yesterday’s embarrassing 3-0 away defeat to Kazakhstan and after watching that game you can’t blame him for wanting out, and he’ll be on the first plane back to Glasgow.

As far as the Hoops are concerned, whilst the Scottish National Team continues the way it’s going there really is no point in letting their Scottish players go and play. Risking an injury whilst playing on a plastic pitch in obscure Eastern European countries is not the way to go, and the Bhoys will now just be hoping that the likes of James Forrest, Scott Bain and Callum McGregor will follow suit.

Tierney is one of Scotland’s brightest young talents and when he plays for the Hoops they are a much better side, and the same usually goes for Scotland too. However, injury problems have already haunted the young full-back this season and the last thing that the Bhoys want to have to deal with is a game against Rangers after the international break without young KT because he suffered an injury whilst playing against a team of teachers, plumbers and firefighters from San Marino.

You can read the Hoops’ thoughts on Tierney’s Scotland drop out here:

The Hoops are all pleased to see that Tierney has dropped out and will be hoping the youngster is fit for their next game against Rangers on March 31st.

Football might be becoming more commercialised than ever, but one thing that will remain the same is the magic of the FA Cup.

England’s oldest football competition has a special place in the hearts of football fans all over the country, and one of the best things to happen in the season is when a small team claims a giant-killing of epic proportions.

This season alone we have seen Newport County claim victories over Leicester City and Middlesbrough and AFC Wimbledon get a famous win over West Ham, but sadly neither team could make it all the way.

As much as we love the magic of the Cup, the hard truth with this cliché is that the competition is almost always won by a top-six Premier League club. But sometimes there are those rare occasions where the tradition is broken, and a team that nobody expected goes all the way and wins the FA Cup for the underdogs.

This is what happened to Portsmouth in the 2007/08 season, and it still remains one of the most surprising FA Cup wins in the history of this historic tournament.

The interesting thing about Pompey’s quest to FA Cup glory is that the final was arguably the easiest game of the entire journey.

The final against Cardiff City is not a clash neutrals remember well, largely because of how dull the game was. Nwankwo Kanu scored the only goal 37 minutes in, a rebounded shot from two-yards out, and that’s essentially all that happened in a march that only saw eight shots on target.

The reason why everyone points to Portsmouth’s FA Cup win being one of the most unlikely is because of the team’s run to the final.

Harry Redknapp’s side only played one game at home during their four-game odyssey to Wembley and beyond, and that match was against Championship side Plymouth Argyle, a game in which Pompey came from behind to win.

The run to the final was filled with nervy moments from David Nugent scoring the only goal in the third-round against Ipswich Town to David James saving a crucial penalty against Preston North End and Pompey only going through thanks to a late own goal from Darren Carter.

But the game that solidified Portsmouth into FA Cup history was their quarter-final match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

This was a United side that would go on to win the Premier League and Champions League with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, and Wayne Rooney, and there is no doubt that had it not been for Pompey causing an upset, Sir Alex Ferguson would have led this team to a second treble.

The game will remain one of the craziest in FA Cup history. United came close to scoring on multiple occasions, but James and a bit of luck from the Portsmouth defence kept the Red Devils at bay.

And then in the 78th minute, Milan Baros was brought down in the penalty area by United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, giving Portsmouth a chance to win the game and bringing the home side down to 10-men.

Kuszczak had come on for Edwin van der Sar at half-time, resulting in Rio Ferdinand going in between the sticks for the remainder of the game. Sulley Muntari converting from the spot sent Portsmouth to Wembley.

A Kanu goal in the semi-finals against West Brom sent Pompey to their first Cup final in over 70 years, and the rest is history. Portsmouth’s accomplishment will remain in FA Cup folklore for generations to come, the question now is will a story as similar to theirs ever happen again?

Portsmouth fans, how impressive was the 2008 FA Cup win? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]Warm Huddersfield Town fans on Twitter have been drooling over the latest club announcement, a statement from well-liked chairman Dean Hoyle.Hoyle spoke after the Terriers’ relegation from the Premier League back to the Sky Bet Championship was confirmed with defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.As well as discussing the future and the way that the season has unfortunately panned out for the Yorkshire team, the 51-year-old addressed rumours about the future of new manager Jan Siewert.

He gave the German, who has failed in his almost-impossible task of keeping Town afloat, his full backing and reiterated that he believes Siewert is the right man to take the side forward.

The bulk of Huddersfield supporters were clearly delighted with the news and the way that Hoyle had addressed them so openly, with one calling him the “best chairman in football” and another joyfully putting “bring on next season.”

Check out those and the rest of the best reactive Tweets to the statement below…

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Leeds United’s academy has produced its fair share of talented players in recent years.

The likes of Danny Rose, James Milner, Aaron Lennon and Jonathan Woodgate have all come through the ranks at Elland Road before achieving distinguished careers at the highest level. Therefore, the excitement surrounding the current crop of players is understandable as it could easily be a start of another golden generation for the Whites, especially if they are promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.

Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton and Bailey Peacock-Farrell have all been handed their debuts by Marcelo Bielsa during the current campaign whilst Ryan Edmonson and Clarke Odour could be the next players to break through to the first team squad.

However, despite the abundance of prospects in the club’s academy, Leeds are on the verge of signing one of Motherwell’s brightest teenagers. According to Football Insider, Stuart McKinstry is expected to join the Championship club in the summer for a fee expected to be in the region of £400,000 after agreeing personal terms earlier this week. The wonderkid has yet to make his bow in senior football but has been very impressive for the Steelmen’s youth sides with his performances earning him a call up for Scotland’s U-17’s outfit in February.

McKinstry will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Gary McAllister who also began his career at Motherwell before winning the First Division title with Leeds in 1992. Unfortunately, though for the 16-year-old, a move to the Whites may end up being disastrous for his development.

If Marcelo Bielsa’s side seal promotion to the top tier in May, McKinstry will have to fight off an intense level of competition in order to make his way into his new manager’s plans for the immediate future. Clarke, Shackleton, Stuart Dallas and Pablo Hernandez have all operated in the wide areas this season for Leeds and a top-two finish for the club could see them strengthen further in the summer.

With this in mind, McKinstry must approach a move to Elland Road with caution as if he gets lost in the system, he may not fulfil his potential.

What do you think Leeds fans? Is McKinstry taking a risk by moving to your club? Are you confident that he will be giving the chance to impress by Bielsa next season? Let us know below.

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Names like Virgil van Dijk, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane and Eden Hazard have frequented conversations regarding who should be nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award and, regardless of comparative achievements, it’s hard to get a look in if you aren’t at a top-six club.

For Stuart Pearce, though, there is one man who deserves to be in the running even though his side aren’t challenging for the league title or Champions League places. Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Debate on Monday, the pundit had this to say (quotes from 22:27):

“I would say Van Dijk, Sterling and Hazard have arguably been the best three (in the Premier League).

“I’d also throw in Ben Foster, I think he’s been outstanding for Watford”.

Indeed, the former West Brom man has been nothing short of brilliant for the Hornets and has been a big part of their meteoric rise to becoming one of the best teams outside the top six – if not the best.

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

The custodian might be well into the twilight of his career at 36-years-old but, like a fine wine, he seems to be getting better and better with age. There is no doubt that the Watford number 26 has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league this term but throwing him in with the aforementioned stars is bold to say the very least.

The credibility behind Pearce’s claim may stand up if Watford were to conquer Manchester City in the FA Cup final, although the 6 ft 4 shot-stopper has played second fiddle to Heurelho Gomes in that competition.

He has also said he would refuse to replace the Brazilian when Watford meet the Premier League champions at Wembley.

Regardless of whether Pearce has taken his assessment of Foster’s stellar season a tad too far, there is no doubt that the veteran ‘keeper has earned recognition this term and Watford fans will surely love that he is getting some attention from pundits in the mainstream media.

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Aston Villa made it eight straight Championship wins with a 2-1 success over Bristol City at the weekend.

And the Villa fans loved what they saw from Glenn Whelan on the afternoon.

The 35-year-old will see his contract expire this summer, but showed that he can still perform at Championship level with a fine display against the Robins.

According to Villa’s official Twitter account, the 5 ft 11 ace ‘made more recoveries than any other player on Saturday’, which was eight.

Meanwhile, WhoScored have the midfielder down as winning three aerial duels.

It has been some run of form from Villa in recent weeks and Dean Smith’s side are seemingly going to take some stopping in the playoffs.

Whelan has not always had the full support of the club’s fans this season, but many loved what they saw from the Dublin-born midfielder on Saturday afternoon.

A selection of the best Twitter reaction can be seen below:

For Manuel Pellegrini to make them contenders for a European spot, West Ham United need to stock up on some special talents. Yes, they did so last summer, but there’s a lot of work to do still. 

Indeed, in the summer overhaul, the Hammers need to attract the best players and especially stock on decisive talent up front.

They’ve been scouting many attacking players recently and according to reports from SportBild (via Tutto Mercato Web), Andrej Kramaric is the latest star on their radar. Excitingly, the Croatian international’s having another stunning season at the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, leading their line in commendable fashion.

Interestingly, Hoffenheim only paid £9.9 million to sign the forward back in 2016.

Kramaric – valued at a big pretty big £31.5m by Transfermarkt – has added a lethal to their attack, finishing off chances effortlessly and rising up to score goals whenever most needed. He’s scored 15 goals in 25 appearances, currently leading the goal-scoring charts at his club. However, he’s not only there to finish off chances, he can create quite a few as well.

A proactive figure who is at the heart of attacking moves throughout, he can revitalize the Hammers attack with his endless vigour. Kramaric’s averaged 3.7 shots per game and 1.7 key passes per game (stats via WhoScored), proving just how influential he is when it comes to stitching together attacks.

Yes, his stint with Leicester City did very little to convince, but the Croatian can work wonders with the creative Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini to produce gold in the attack. Imagine how nice that would be, Hammers fans, a striker who can score actual, real-life goals?

Furthermore, his versatility in attack means he can play as a striker or advanced midfielder as well. Not only would he be the perfect replacement to Marko Arnautovic, but the confident Croatian can add more depth in attack and help create sparks with his overall influence in overseeing devastating attacking moves.

West Ham fans, do you think Kramaric can be the world-class signing required? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Newcastle United are on course for another season in the Premier League, but is signing Ryan Babel really the best way to celebrate?

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and manager Rafael Benitez are in a tug of war over future transfer funds, and it does not look like it is stopping anytime soon. The well-documented frugality of the department store tycoon has become a desperate tale of life at St James’ Park. Fans have pleaded over and over for the club to invest the necessary capital to return the club back to its former glory, and almost every time they have been met with the same answer: no.

However, where this feud has left supporters frustrated in the past, they will surely be hoping, and praying, that Mike Ashley shuts down the move for Benitez’s latest target, Ryan Babel.

As per Football Insider, the Spaniard is lining up a summer move for the Fulham man if he stays on as Newcastle United manager.

The pair have played with each other in the past when Benitez signed the Netherlands man from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

A source close to the player has apparently revealed to Football Insider that Newcastle United are among the clubs keeping tabs on Babel, who has done relatively well since joining Fulham in January – scoring four goals and providing four assists in 13 matches.

Is this enough to inspire the Magpies faithful? We doubt it. Real talent needs to be bought and it needs to be done quickly if Ashley wants to avoid facing a mob at the beginning of next season.

That means supplying the funds necessary and backing Rafael Benitez in the coming window; not forcing him to feed off the left-overs from relegated Fulham.

Newcastle United fans, would you be happy with Ryan Babel this summer? Is he really the player you have been looking for? Let us know in the comments below…

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Mauricio Pochettino is once again to be asked to work within limited financial constraints this summer, though the club could make a £30million move for Barcelona’s Andre Gomes, according to the Daily Telegraph.

What’s the word?

The report states that Spurs are likely to break their self-imposed transfer ban that has been running since January 2018. Their last signing, indeed, was Lucas Moura, who moved to the club from PSG.

The Telegraph claim that two or three signings could be made, along with a deal for a homegrown player that will help boost the club’s quota.

Barca’s Gomes, currently on loan at Everton, Nice right-back Youcef Atal, Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish are all listed as potential signings this summer and the figure could reach in excess of £100million.

However, there is a claim that such a number will only be reached if attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, right-back Kieran Trippier and centre-back Toby Alderweireld leave the club.

Gomes has made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once and providing two assists.

Patience required with Gomes

The move for Gomes is something of a strange one.

He has not set the world alight at Everton and a deal at £30m seems steep.

But there is history here; the club signed Moussa Sissoko for the same fee in 2016 and he endured a rocky start to his career at the club.

The France international had previous experience in the Premier League, but that did not ensure a smooth transition to life at Spurs.

This season, however, he has been the club’s best midfielder, having finally bought into the Argentine’s methods.

Fans may need similar patience with Gomes, who does not appear to suit the high-pressing, high-intensity game favoured by Pochettino.

His season at Everton has been promising in patches, with fleeting spells of class providing reason to believe that he could be a hit at Tottenham, but question marks remain over whether he is truly at the level required to cement his place in a Champions League standard midfield.

Similar questions were asked of Sissoko when he arrived and it took him more than two seasons to answer those with interest.

It remains to be seen if Pochettino will be forced to work his magic with Gomes or if the playmaker will instantly thrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.