It would be fair to say that the West Ham United supporters were not pleased with what they saw from Pablo Zabaleta in Friday night’s 3-1 win over Fulham.
Zabaleta was handed the right-back berth against the Cottagers, but found it difficult to deal with Ryan Babel, who opened the scoring early on.
The 34-year-old has been a fine signing for the Hammers since his arrival in 2017, but his contract will expire this summer and he could well move on or even retire.
It seems that the West Ham fans will be happy to see the back of the Argentine based on their reaction to his display against Fulham.
Indeed, many took to social media to criticise the South American, claiming that he no longer has what is required to operate in the Premier League.
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Their criticism was perhaps a touch harsh, but Zabaleta did struggle on Friday night.
A selection of the Twitter reaction to his performance can be seen below:
Xande Silva is very nearly ready to become a senior star at West Ham United.
The forward, just 21, has been at the club for under a year, joining from Benfica in 2018.
But he has already shown flashes that he is more than ready to make the permanent step up to the first-team.
In just seven Premier League 2 games this season, he has scored seven goals and has an international pedigree to boot.
He has played for Portugal at every level from Under-15 to Under-20, scoring for every single one of them.
Silva, who can play as a striker or on either wing, was handed his debut by Manuel Pellegrini against Burnley earlier this season, coming on for 17 minutes of the 2-0 defeat.
And though he was unable to hit the back of the net, Silva expressed his determination to get back into the first-team as soon as possible.
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Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “I’m very happy as it’s a dream come true.
“We are disappointed with the game but we are still fighting for more. I work every day for this. It was close to being a goal. I tried my best, but I’ll have to wait for the next game.
“I was waiting for the opportunity and the opportunity came to me and I enjoyed it, but what I’m saying is we are still working for the next games.
“It’s a dream because this is the best league in the world and every kid in the world wants to play in this league.”
He subsequently started in the 2-0 win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup, playing 79 minutes.
Marko Arnautovic, when motivated and fit, is surely the first-choice forward at the club but the likes of Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez are largely interchangeable in the pecking order.
Pellegrini bringing Silva through against Burnley and Birmingham may well have been a warning to those on the fringes, that there is a kid waiting in the wings hungry to take their place.
He will surely make his first Premier League start for the club soon – Silva is more than ready, and looks a truly mouth-watering prospect for Hammers fans to fawn over.
Brendan Rodgers has all-but confirmed that Scott Brown is about to sign a new Celtic contract.
What’s the word?
The midfielder is out of contract in the summer and has held talks with Australian outfit Western Melbourne as well as receiving an offer the UAE – according to recent reports from The Daily Record.
Brown was signed from Hibs in 2007 for a record Scottish transfer fee and has picked up eight title winning medals since making the move along the M8.
It was reported on Wednesday that the Celtic skipper is set to sign a new deal, and following a 2-0 win over St. Johnstone, Rodgers appeared to confirm the rumours.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Rodgers said: “He’s an outstanding player and I think the possibilities to go and try something else will come later on. Scott could be a coach here in the future. There will always be a role.”
Priceless Experience
It is easy to overlook or take for granted the influence that Brown has but as well as his experience, his ability to dictate the tempo is priceless.
Last season without their skipper the team looked paralysed but a strange thing happened in November when Celtic suddenly clicked into gear as Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie took charge with Brown out injured.
Having other options and combinations is welcome but it shouldn’t detract from the influence and qualities of the club captain.
Craig Gordon and Mikael Lustig could soon be dropping out of the side creating a vacuum in experience – Brown fills that and much much more.
[ad_pod ]The early departure of Yannick Bolasie back to his parent club Everton, as per avfc.co.uk,Âhas left a hole in Aston Villa’s squad.Dean Smith must seek to find a solution to this issue ahead of his side’s clash with Ipswich Town at Villa Park this weekend.
On the chalkboard
Whilst Bolasie wasn’t able to produce his best form consistently in his time with the Villans this season, the 29-year-old’s pace, trickery and directness would have been the ideal weapon to target former manager Paul Lambert’s full-backs with on Saturday.
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In Bolasie’s stead, Smith ought to give Andre Green a rare chance in the starting XI, as the 20-year-old has the required attributes to replicate the Everton winger’s effect on the Tractor Boys. The youngster’s pace and confidence when running at opponents with the ball at his feet should make him a dynamic and dangerous presence for the Ipswich defence to have to contend with.
Ready to rise to the challenge
Green spent a chunk of the first half of the campaign on loan with League One high flyers Portsmouth. He is yet to start for Villa after he was recalled, as per the club’s official Twitter account, from Fratton Park though, and has only made two starts so far this season for the Midlands outfit in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
However, he replaced Bolasie from the bench against Hull City last time out and impressed in his cameo. What’s more, the Villa faithful are sure to get behind Green and give him a chance to grow into a greater role in the team due to the fact he is a product of their club’s academy.
He isn’t the finished article yet, but the potential is clear and he’s ready for this next big test in his career.
تلقى المدرب الفرنسي زين الدين زيدان، المدير الفني لنادي ريال مدريد، نبًأ سارًا في تدريبات اللوس بلانكوس، اليوم الجمعة، استعدادًا لمباراة ريال سوسيداد في الدوري الإسباني.
ريال مدريد يستقبل ريال سوسيداد بالجولة الثانية من الدوري الإسباني على ملعب “أنويتا” مساء الأحد المقبل.
وبحسب صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، فإن التدريبات الجماعية اليوم شهدت تواجد النجم النرويجي بشكل طبيعي في التدريبات.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كورتوا: نأمل في حفاظ ريال مدريد على لقب الليجا والتتويج بكل البطولات
أوديجارد يُعاني من مشاكل في وتر الرضفة (صابونة الركبة)، وكان من المفترض أن يخضع لعملية جراحية، ولكنه فضل عدم الدخول لغرفة العمليات، ويريد التعافي منها بالعلاج الطبيعي
وأوضحت الصحيفة أنّ أوديجارد تدرب بشكل طبيعي، وكل شيء يُشير لإمكانية تواجده في مباراة الأحد.
واشارت الصحيفة إلى أنّ لوكا يوفيتش، تدرب أيضًا مع المجموعة، بينما لم يتواجد أي من لوكاس فاسكيز أو إيدير ميليتاو، حيث ظلا في صالة الألعاب الرياضية (الجيم) للتعافي من إصابتهما.
Despite crashing out of both domestic cup competitions, Liverpool’s league form has been utterly phenomenal. The troubles of yesteryear have ceased, as the Reds have only conceded 14 goals in 24 games – the best defensive record in the division. Having won 19 of their 24 games, they have given themselves a favourable position as we embark towards the conclusion of the season.
Given the club’s historical tendencies to fall short when it matters most, any predictions about lifting the title would be ill-timed. Regardless of how this season develops, Jurgen Klopp deserves enormous praise for the way he has transformed this Liverpool team to be a thoroughly competitive outfit in the league and Europe.
A prominent feature of that transformation has been the formation of the Reds’ devastating attack. The signing of Mohammed Salah has been utterly inspired, and it has placed the Egyptian in the elite echelons of world football. Collectively, Salah, Sadio Mane Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri have totalled 41 Premier League goals, with almost half a season of football remaining. From next season onward, the Reds should further equip their attacking arsenal, in the form of one of their youth products.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group Stage – Group C – Crvena Zvezda v Liverpool – Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – November 6, 2018 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts Action images via Reuters/Paul Childs
The importance of youth development, specifically, youth integration, has seemingly reached its peak with German clubs looking to acquire the best young talent from British team, and a player of Wilson’s undeniable class will begin to attract interest if the Wales international is overlooked by his parent club.
During his current loan spell at Derby, the 21-year-old has pieced together an impressive catalogue of sensational goals, particularly from dead-ball situations. And, while his goal-scoring prowess is a valued facet of his game, to focus solely on it would be a cruel dismissal of Wilson’s other qualities.
As is customary for most wingers, Wilson is blessed with great technicality, and thanks to his electric turn of pace, quick-thinking, and dizzying skill, he is a difficult player to contain. The winger also exhibits fine passing ability, particularly his valued tendency to play through balls. Resultantly, he is often the source of consistent service from wide positions.
The Welshman played a vital role while on loan at Hull City last season, helping the Tigers to avoid relegation with 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) in 13 Championship games – a demonstration of his ability to make a meaningful, and speedy impact. In the same vein, Wilson has maintained his excellent form this campaign. In 28 appearances in all competitions for Frank Lampard’s Derby, the winger has 16 goal contributions (12 goals, four assists). He has also impressed at international level for Wales, earning eight caps and contributing towards three goals (two goals, one assist).
Soccer Football – Championship – Derby County v Middlesbrough – Pride Park, Derby, Britain – January 1, 2019 Derby County’s Harry Wilson Action Images/Craig Brough EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
It seems entirely plausible that Wilson will surpass the 20 goal contributions mark, and at the age of 21, his potential is vast. At both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, Klopp has developed an ability to maximise the output of his creative talents, giving them the best opportunity to express themselves. Wilson could prove to be the perfect addition to this Liverpool team, that already flaunts a plethora of attacking talent.
While Klopp rightly deserves acclaim for Liverpool’s transformation from top-four hopefuls to a genuinely competitive team, he has done so through exercising the club’s financial power. Most definitely, there is nothing wrong with resorting to the transfer market to strengthen one’s side, but youth integration is a far cheaper method, and often a source of tremendous pride for supporters.
Naturally, not every academy product or young player is of sufficient quality to play for the first-team and make an enduring impression; but Wilson undoubtedly has the talent and the potential to become a crucial component of Liverpool’s side for years to come.
Everton welcomed Manchester City to Goodison Park on Wednesday evening and with it their former defensive enforcer John Stones.
Plenty of Premier League clubs have been forced to offload their top players to Man City in the past decade and Everton suffered that fate in 2016.
Stones, widely regarded as England’s most promising defender at the time, swapped Merseyside for Manchester as Pep Guardiola began a defensive reshuffle.
His transfer was understandably placed under some scrutiny throughout the British media, but it was difficult for the Toffees faithful to be disappointed over the decision.
While Raheem Sterling has cut something of a satanic figure on the red half of Merseyside, Stones remains a relatively popular one amongst the blue half, and he enhanced his popularity by waving towards the Gwladys Street end at Goodison Park as he left the field of play on Wednesday.
In response to the video, most Everton fans took a pragmatic view on Stones’ decision to leave the club and recognised that he was handed an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.
If the Twitter reaction is anything to go by, it seems that the supporters are willing the 24-year-old defender to succeed at City and always knew he was destined for a huge future in the game.
Here’s what a handful of Everton fans have had to say about Stones after watching the short clip…
Arsenal continued their decent form this season as they held Spurs to a 1-1 draw this weekend.
The Gunners have been impressive enough under new manager Unai Emery, although a quiet January was a bit of a concern as the club failed to make moves in the market.
Another rumbling issue at the Emirates has been the form and future of Germand midfielder Mesut Ozil, who has drifted in and out of the squad this term to differing effects at times.
The summer is going to be a big one for the Gunners, and they simply have to make some moves in the market if they are to keep improving and moving forward as a club.
And one man we here at the Tavern think would be a superb addition is current Monchengladbach midfield ace Thorgan Hazard, who has developed himself into one of the finest attacking midfield players on the continent.
Hazard, who is the brother of current Chelsea superstar Eden, never really got his chance at the Blues, but he has developed over in the Bundesliga into one of the most dangerous attacking midfield players in Europe on his day.
With Ozil potentially seeing his time with the Gunners come to an end, a player like Hazard might well be a suitable replacement both in the short and long-term.
Arsenal will look to playerss Kevin De Bruyne for inspiration too, after seeing the Belgian leave Chelsea with little opportunity and then return to Man City as one of the world’s finest players.
Hazard has bags of ability, and he’d be a superb addition for the Gunners with his technique, ability to play numerous positions, and finishing ability all points to note in his game.
Gunners fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!
Leeds United now sit third in the Championship behind Norwich and Sheffield United, but they must focus on winning their own games rather than looking around them.
A weekend off from the title race has allowed their rivals to snatch a lead in matchday 33, where Norwich battered Bolton 4-0 away from home and Sheffield United beat Reading by the same scoreline. Points on the board are indeed better than a game in hand, so the pressure is on Leeds to make up for lost ground.
There are 16 games left for the top two and 17 left for Leeds, so although the title race can be declared as on, there’s still so much time left. The issue with Leeds is their inability to finish the chances they create, and the pressure of not being top of the tree won’t help the players to keep calm in front of goal.
If Leeds win all their remaining games, they’d win the league– simple as that. None of these three sides are invincible as we all know, but a vital trait of a champion team is putting in a solid run of wins as May draws nearer.
The style of football Leeds play is what many consider to be the best in the league, and if they can improve on how they play and forget about the teams around them, they won’t have an issue winning the league. Problems arise when a team is more concerned about what the other sides are doing, and how they’re playing to concentrate on their own game.
Look at Liverpool over the last few decades in the Premier League. Similarly to Leeds, they have high expectation from fans to win their division, and that, mixed with the pressure of the team below or on top of them winning, has been their downfall.
Having a game in hand is not easy physiologically because it feels like you’re playing catch-up, so the best thing Leeds can do is focus on winning each game is it comes, because that’s what would make them champions. While that sounds rather obvious, they must avoid an emotional collapse and take each game at a time, rather than imploding.
Forget the others, it must be all about Leeds United.
Which of the top three do you think is in a better position to win the Championship?