Neymar, Messi, Dybala & the Champions League team of the round
Neymar and Dybala lead our Champions League Team of the Round for matchday two after scoring hat-tricks for Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus
Neymar and Dybala lead our Champions League Team of the Round for matchday two after scoring hat-tricks for Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus
The 64-match tournament will be held across 11 cities and 12 stadiums from June 14 to July 15. Goal has the full lowdown on every location…
Glasgow Rangers fans are delighted after Steven Davis equalled Peter Shilton’s British record for the most international appearances.
On Thursday, Davis was in action for Northern Ireland against Italy. While the Azzurri prevailed 2-0, it was still a special night for the Gers midfielder – he picked up his 125th cap for his country, which saw him equal goalkeeper Shilton’s England haul (via BBC).
This is just the latest impressive achievement for the former Southampton man. He has been an important part of Steven Gerrard’s Rangers squad this season, making 41 appearances in all competitions (Transfermarkt) as the Ibrox outfit have strolled to the Premiership title. Such was the level of his displays, he even signed a new one-year deal recently despite being 36 years of age.
Upon his latest outing for Northern Ireland, Rangers’ official Twitter account congratulated Davis. The fans then took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the legend and shower him in praise.
“An outstanding achievement from Steven Davis”
Credit: @alegil2101
“Hero”
Credit: @Clarkie8
“#UlsterPirlo”
Credit: @robertmcnaught
“Wonderful . Legend”
Credit: @doxterisation
“He’s the goat”
Credit: @Declan_1872_
“He’s utter class. Model pro and unbelievably talented. Glad he’s ours, then and now.”
Credit: @delinquentrich
In other news, Rangers fans react to this injury update.
Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Aston Villa to move for Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli after his asking price was slashed by £20m.
According to Football Insider, Spurs chief Daniel Levy will look to engineer a £25m move away for the 24-year-old, despite valuing him at £45m last summer.
Alli, whose contract in north London runs until 2024, has made just two Premier League starts under Jose Mourinho this season.
It seems as if a move away in the upcoming transfer window is a real possibility, and talking to Football Insider, cited by Birmingham Live, Agbonlahor urged Villa to make a £25m move, describing him as a ‘perfect’ addition.
The ex-Villa man did have his doubts over whether or not Levy would do business at £25m, though.
“I just don’t see Spurs letting him go for that amount of money, to be honest.
“He’s still young. Daniel Levy [the Spurs chairman] will want more than that.
“If that was the fee, I’d definitely expect Aston Villa to go for him. I think he’d be perfect for Aston Villa in that number 10 role.
“But I don’t see it being that fee. This is Daniel Levy we’re talking about.”
@AVFC_News shared Agbonlahor’s comments on social media through Birmingham Live’s story.
As to be expected, it didn’t take long for several fans to have their say on a potential move for Alli, with many both for and against a possible swoop. One supporter even described the Englishman as ‘toxic’.
“I’d hope we pay whatever it takes to land him, think it would be more realistic price of £35million to £40million imo, Alli Jack Ollie and McGinn linking up would be great”
Credit: @UTViIIa
“Don’t want him anywhere near my club”
Credit: @stev26656
“noooooo”
Credit: @jimmy04421622
“I’ve said this for ages be great for villa..”
Credit: @villawayne197
“If you’ve seen the Spurs documentary you will know that Ali can be quite toxic and passionate about it. Which I get kind of but I wouldn’t want someone like that in my dressing room if I was a player”
Credit: @starblind1988
“100% you dont become a bad player over night get him to villa and show him the love and watch how he will perform”
Credit: @SteveHa39407869
In other news: Many AVFC fans fume as price emerges for summer target, find out more here.
Sheffield Wednesday have endured a run of seven successive defeats and now face a potentially defining crunch match this evening as they welcome a rival to Hillsborough Stadium.
Darren Moore’s task of keeping the Owls in the division could become nearly impossible should they taste defeat against Huddersfield Town – the Yorkshire giants are already cut seven points adrift, so failure to pick up points here would surely see them put one foot into League One.
It means the 46-year-old boss has plenty to consider in terms of team selection ahead of kickoff, and one of his biggest problems has been finding the net.
Indeed, Wednesday have only scored four goals in their last seven outings, so it is reasonable to foresee a change up top tonight.
The Owls did face table-topping Norwich last time out – a team that has the best defensive record in the division – but Jordan Rhodes did manage to find the net.
Unlike Josh Windass, who was particularly wasteful and greedy on the day. As per SofaScore, the 27-year-old only managed to pul off 42% of his seven dribbling attempts and made the third-lowest number of passes (24) of any starter.
He also came under fire after he wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead at 1-1.
Instead of playing through the wide-open Joey Pelupessy, he blasted an effort into row Z before telling the Dutchman to ‘shut his mouth’ in more colourful language. Hardly a sign of being a team player. We’ll never know if that pass would’ve created a goal, but it was certainly a better option than what conspired.
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton told Sky Sports at half-time, via YorkshireLive: “When these moments happen in games, the big moments especially when you are playing such a difficult side and you’re on the run that you’re on at the minute, it looks like a golden opportunity to slip Pelupessy in. And obviously, the option is the wrong one.”
The £15k-per-week ace, dubbed “quick” and “explosive” by his father Dean, is the Owls’ most prolific shooter, averaging 1.7 attempts per game but in return, he’s found the net only five times, via WhoScored.
On the other hand, Callum Paterson – who was dropped on Sunday – has scored more goals (six) with fewer efforts (1.2 per game). He should be starting instead, perhaps alongside Jordan Rhodes.
Moore could also call upon Derby loanee Jack Marriott too, so he’s got two other options who are far more suited to a forward role than Windass.
If the Owls want better fortunes in front of goal, then it’s time to stop fitting the former Rangers man into the side in any way possible. Moore must be ruthless and drop him his starting XI tonight.
AND in other news, Moore suffers big blow to “unbelievable” Owls star ahead of tonight’s kickoff…
Many Everton fans have been left to laud an injury update given by Abdoulaye Doucoure before they play Brighton and Hove Albion away on Monday night.
Writing on his official Twitter page, the former Watford ace has revealed that his rehabilitation is going ‘very well’ and added that he is ‘confident’ that he can play again before the end of the 2020/21 term.
Doucoure has missed the Goodison Park faithful’s last four games in total over all competitions, in where the Merseyside club have been knocked out of the FA Cup to Manchester City and have picked up just one point from their last three matches in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).
Nonetheless, the central midfield player is clearly very important to Carlo Ancelotti’s team, and so it has come as a much welcome relief that he should be back before the end of the season.
These Toffees supporters lauded the injury update on Twitter, with one Blues fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘fantastic’:
“Get in Abdoulaye. We miss you and you are needed. Get fit soon!!!”
Credit: @ChrisG01
“Great news. We miss you lad, you’ve quickly become a key part of the first team”
Credit: @sunscreemer
“Is right lad”
Credit: @PaulBrownEFC
“Fantastic news”
Credit: @keithsweeney5
“Excellent news, stay strong”
Credit: @1965_donna
“What a day”
Credit: @tombest94
In other news, find out which EFC loanee was slammed for his recent display here!
According to Calcio Mercato, Juventus are after Tottenham winger Heung-min Son.
The Old Lady are believed to be interested in taking the South Korea international to Italian – this reports says the 28-year-old would cost €90m (£78.6m).
The report adds that Juve could look to sell the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernadeschi in a bid to raise some funds to sign Son.
Along with Harry Kane, Son is Tottenham’s most important player. So far this campaign, he has 17 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, while he has 102 strikes in 263 games for the north London outfit since joining from Bayer Leverkusen (Transfermarkt). Last year, Jose Mourinho called him “precious” after a goal against Aston Villa secured a 3-2 win for Spurs (talkSPORT), while he also lauded him as a “special player” just last month.
Selling the South Korea international for whatever kind of money would surely be a backwards step for Spurs, especially if they harbour intentions of trying to win trophies and compete on the biggest European stage year-in and year-out.
Cashing in on your best players sends completely the wrong message, and it surely wouldn’t have Mourinho himself pleased either. The Lilywhites would be better off just turning down anything Juventus might have to offer.
In other news, Fabrizio Romano provides an update on this Spurs transfer target.
Steve Bruce can discover the new Michael Carrick by urging Mike Ashley to see that Newcastle United sign Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock on loan.
According to the Daily Mail, the Toon are pushing through efforts to convince Mikel Arteta to sanction a half-season deal for Willock to see out the remainder of the term at St. James’ Park.
The 21-year-old has spent the first part of the campaign used as a substitute at the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners have reservations over the Magpies’ interest due to discussions to allow Ainsley Maitland-Niles to join either West Brom or Southampton on loan.
Willock is thought to be at the top of Bruce’s shortlist heading into Deadline Day, but has also shown an interest in Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and Celtic’s Olivier Ntcham.
Willock is eager to play regular first-team football after starting only two of his seven Premier League appearances this term, while playing just 14 minutes in 2021 after being left an unused substitute of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United.
The £14.5m-rated gem had been a regular of Arteta’s plans in the Europa League Group Stage, scoring three and assisting three goals in the UEFA contest, and featured for 66 minutes against Newcastle in the FA Cup third-round tie but played no part of their fourth round defeat to Southampton.
Bruce has been pushing for a new box-to-box midfielder to join Newcastle all winter, and will be loath to end Deadline Day without the Toon welcoming an energetic dynamo to St. James’ Park who he feels can bring a driving force to the engine room.
Willock could be just who Bruce is after, as long as Ashley and Managing Director Lee Charnley are able to convince Arteta to part with the 21-year-old he lauds for his “very special” qualities.
The England U21 international has shown in the Europa League this season, and in almost every season since making his senior Arsenal debut, that he can score and assist goals from midfield, but offers far more beyond just his end product.
Trevor Sinclair has likened Willock to former Manchester United midfielder and serial title-winner Michael Carrick for his ability on the ball, having been thrown into the deep end in north London but come out swimming at the other end.
“I think Joe Willock, at Arsenal, has done well and he could be another one for Euro 2021,” Sinclair told talkSPORT, via quotes by The Boot Room. “He’s been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s done well. He’s neat and tidy and good on the ball. He reminds me a bit of Michael Carrick.”
Not only has Willock been thrown in at the deep end, but also thrown in almost anywhere and everywhere for the Gunners. The 21-year-old has featured in the holding midfield role, as the box-to-box option, on the wing or in an attacking midfield capacity, showing how he can more than comfortably deliver Bruce what he is looking for.
He’s certainly not afraid to drive forward with the ball at his feet, too, with Willock recording 0.8 successful dribbles with a 44% success rate in the Europa League this term and providing 0.8 accurate crosses once at the top of the pitch, per SofaScore.
Only Jonjo Shelvey (1.15) and Miguel Almiron (0.89) push up the pitch with the ball at their feet in Premier League fixtures more often than Willock has in Europe this season, among Bruce’s current central midfield group. Shelvey is also the only one to offer a higher average number of crosses (0.92).
So, if Ashley and Charnley can convince Arsenal and Arteta to sanction a deal, Bruce would stand to sign an upgrade and one who could prove unquestionably to be the new Carrick with a regular run in the side.
AND in other news – Exclusive: Rob Lee slams “laughable” Newcastle and Steve Bruce decision…
West Brom face an almighty task as they welcome Manchester City to the Hawthorns this evening.
Sam Allardyce’s men are in desperate need of results as they sit six points adrift of safety at the half-way stage of the season, though there are no easy games in the Premier League these days.
Usually, this sort of fixture would be a bit of a free hit but the Baggies really do need to start picking up points before it’s too late.
And the 66-year-old’s chances of pulling off a shock in the Midlands tonight have been boosted by the return of their only senior striker, Karlan Grant.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Big Sam revealed that the 23-year-old forward is available for selection, he told reporters, via wba.co.uk:
“I’m glad to say we have Matt Phillips and Karlan Grant back. That boosts our squad,” said Allardyce. “Granty, before he got here, scored plenty of goals at Huddersfield so we would like him to be back in the team and finding positions to score goals.”
The £9m-rated marksman may have only scored one top-flight goal in 867 minutes of action, but evidently, his manager is a fan and has hinted towards his involvement this evening.
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Grant has missed their last three Premier League outings as well as their FA Cup exit and in his absence, winger-by-trade Callum Robinson has been deployed upfront – a desperate experiment that has failed to work out.
Indeed, the Irishman has failed to score in that run of matches, even during their 3-2 win over arch-rivals Wolves. That day, two spot-kicks from Matheus Pereira and centre-back Semi Ajayi’s header from a set-piece sealed a rare victory.
Only two other players (Pereira and Conor Gallager) in this Albion squad are averaging more shots per game than Grant (1.3), while Robinson is further behind, averaging 0.8 attempts per match, via WhoScored, which shows he’s not really threatening enough to have the chance to score.
Grant’s expected goals per 90 minutes (0.17) is also above Robinson (0.10), so the summer arrival is certainly a better option in attack.
The Baggies are also among the lowest scorers in the division having bagged 15 goals in 19 outings – only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer (ten).
Former Terriers boss Danny Cowley once dubbed the 6-foot striker “ruthless in front of goal” to The Athletic while another one of his ex-managers, Lee Bowyer, believes Grant is a player who “causes problems” for the opposition.
It’s on Big Sam to get those type of performances back out of him and his presence leading the line tonight could come as a major boost towards West Brom’s chances.
After all, he’s their only real striker and as such, he ought to be in the starting XI right now. They need goals if they’re to defeat – or even draw with – Pep Guardiola’s side so Grant must be selected from the start.
It’s time to unleash the 23-year-old dynamo.
AND in other news, 3 new signings, no Sawyers: How West Brom’s XI may look after deadline day…
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood is unsure over what role Ollie Watkins could have with England.
Watkins, who joined Harewood’s old side from Brentford last summer, has had a season to remember at Villa Park. The 25-year-old has already reached double figures for the campaign and there are now calls for him to be included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships this summer.
Another former Villa forward, Gabby Agbonlahor, is one of those eager to see a call-up for £27m-rated Watkins. Harewood, however, is not too sure.
When asked if he could see Southgate turning to Watkins, Harewood told FFC:
“I wouldn’t rule it out. But with the calibre of strikers that we have now, I can’t see him being ahead of majority of them that can play up there because you’ve [also] got the likes of Sterling and players like that can play up front now.”
Indeed, England have some good options in attack, with Southgate really spoilt for choice in the No.9 department.
As well as Sterling, who has been used down the middle at times by club manager Pep Guardiola, Southgate also has the likes of Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Southampton’s Danny Ings to call upon.
Then there is, of course, England captain and Tottenham’s leading centre-forward Harry Kane, who will no doubt be the Three Lions’ first-choice striker at Euro 2020.
When you consider all of that, the tournament may just come a bit too soon for Watkins.