All posts by h716a5.icu

How many signings do Newcastle United exactly need to make in the summer? Well, quite a few!

The Magpies are in need of boosting many areas in the pitch in order to become the side Rafa Benitez could usher into attaining a European spot finish next season. Indeed, we say it all the time, but Mike Ashley seriously needs to cooperate and give the Spaniard the targets he wants or risk him walking out.

One department Newcastle must improve upon is the flanks of their otherwise sturdy defence. As a matter of fact, their full-backs are still very shaky and the root cause towards much of their problems. For years now, the Magpies have ignored their problems on that front, letting things go incredibly stale.

So, imagine the surprise amongst the Toon Army online when reports from BILD via HITC) emerged claiming the Magpies are planning to sign young German full-back Josha Vagnoman.

The 18-year-old defender, who can operate as a right-back or left-back, has impressed for German 2nd division side Hamburg this season. A promising young full-back, who is not only stable defensively but also ambitious going forward, he’s the perfect mould to thrive under Benitez’s guidance.

Despite mostly used as a substitute, Vagnoman’s impressed with his attacking ability and creativity, often enabling him to play higher up the field. The versatile defender’s scored 9 goals in 26 appearances for Hamburg U-18 side, proving how adventurous he’s going forward.

An exciting talent, the talented teen could lift backsides off seats at St. James’ Park. At their worst, the Tyneside giants can look one-paced and quickly devoid of ideas, so making a move for someone like Vagnoman could provide an exciting new dimension.

While Hamburg would surly be adamant to keep him, Newcastle’s spotlight could be too bright for the youngster to ignore. Vagnoman could be the latest gem elevated by Benitez and, knowing the Magpies solidity in central defence, he’ll slot in to add energy and stability on the flanks.

Indeed, while making a move for a German second division talent doesn’t sound overly exciting, Vagnoman could be a gem waiting to be discovered.

Newcastle fans, would you be pleased by the exciting full-backs signing? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

[ad_pod ]

Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final meeting with Watford at Wembley is supposed to be a big day out. Indeed it may still prove to be but fans have shared split opinions over the ticketing system for the game after the club announced they’d go on sale at the weekend.

Some fans have been quite vocal in an apparent disregard for away season ticket holders, suggesting that the system was a shocking way to reward those who have attended more matches this campaign.

Another individual called the club a joke as they were left disgusted that fans were being penalised for not having enough loyalty points on their season ticket.

It’s a decision that has left many supporters fearing that they won’t be able to sit alongside friends or family when at the game.

However, a particular fan stated that people should stop whinging as it was more important to be at the game.

Others bemoaned the fact that tickets for a game with Southampton go on sale the same day and website traffic will be unbearable. “Let the war begin” was a quote from another member of the Molineux faithful.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

[ad_pod ]

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on course to resume first-team training with the Reds next week.

What’s the latest?

Klopp told Liverpool’s official website:

“I spoke to him a second ago; Ox is positive, we are all positive. It was a little setback, it was not more, but it was a setback. That’s how it is.

“You don’t want to be overly sensitive after a period like this because they train a lot – training is always like this, it’s like stress for the body. You feel something, but you don’t want to mention everything because it [can be] DOMS [delayed onset muscle soreness].

“It was the case with him, it was a little bit more than DOMS, but not really [serious]. We are careful of course, he is working, he is doing a lot and I think will be in training in a week again. Then he will be fine.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played for Liverpool’s first team since suffering a severe knee injury against Roma in the Champions League last April.

The midfielder made his return for the club’s Under-23 side against Derby County Under-23s earlier this month, but only lasted 40 minutes after feeling his hamstring.

The 25-year-old has not been in first-team training since, but Klopp has insisted that everyone is ‘positive’ when it comes to the former Southampton youngster.

What does it all mean?

Well, Liverpool need to be very, very careful with the central midfielder.

There is absolutely no question that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s knee will be in a good place following months and months of rehab work, but other muscles will have naturally suffered.

It is not too much of a surprise that he incurred a muscular problem on his first competitive outing, but the former Arsenal ace needs to be properly managed in the coming weeks.

Liverpool, and indeed their fans, will be desperate for Oxlade-Chamberlain to play a role between now and the end of the campaign.

However, his long-term welfare must be put first and it will be very interesting to see when Klopp decides to reintroduce the Englishman into the first team.

[ad_pod ]

Rangers are reportedly eyeing a deal for 22 year-old striker Adam Buksa, who averages a goal every two league matches this season.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, the Gers are “keeping close tabs” on Buksa, and they sent scouts to watch him in action for Polish side Pogon Szczecin last weekend.

The 22 year-old has been capped at multiple youth levels for Poland, but he is yet to earn his first senior cap.

The report claims the Gers are planning “an overhaul of their attack”, but is Buksa a good starting point?

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Not a Morelos replacement

Buksa’s goalscoring numbers are good for his age, having found the net 13 times in 31 total appearances for his current club, and he is currently enjoying his best ever campaign with nine goals and four assists in 18 league games.

The 22 year-old is clearly improving and still has plenty of room to grow, however it is when you delve deeper into his numbers that concerns arise.

Including all clubs he has played for, Buksa has scored just 20 goals in 97 games across his career, so he is not the man to replace Alfredo Morelos’ goals if the Colombian does eventually depart. That strike rate simply isn’t good enough to lead the line week in week out.

He could replace Kyle Lafferty though, who has shown absolutely none of the form that endeared him to the Ibrox faithful during his first spell with the club.

At 6 ft 3 Buksa is more than capable of filling Lafferty’s role as a target man, and would offer something slightly different to Morelos and Jermain Defoe.

Valued at just £675k on Transfermarkt, the Gers wouldn’t have to break the bank for the Polish front man either, so replacing an ageing, misfiring Lafferty with a younger, hungrier player makes perfect sense.

Out with the old and in with the new, and so long as he is not viewed as a successor to Morelos, Buksa would be a fantastic signing for the Gers.

There’s something about the tag ‘Brazilian wonderkid’ that gets perks the eyebrows of football fans everywhere.

From Neymar to Robinho to Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian wonderkid is without a doubt one of the most exciting breeds of players in world football, and according to recent reports, Arsenal are on the verge of signing one.

According to Yahoo Esportes, Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Sao Paulo-based side Ituano for the signing of 17-year-old forward Gabriel Martinelli for a reported deal of £5 million.

Martinelli has been one of Ituano’s star players this season, scoring 10 goals for the fourth-division Brazilian side in 31 appearances, and the teenager could join the north London club as soon as next month once he has obtained an Italian passport if reports are to be believed.

Arsenal beat out 25 other teams for the signature of Martinelli, which is an impressive feat given that some of the clubs that were in the war for the teenager included Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Flamengo as well as Spanish side Barcelona, who have a good history of bringing in South American talent to Europe.

Martinelli will be only the ninth Brazilian player to join the Gunners and the second to join the club as a teenager, the first being Denilson back in 2006 who signed for Arsenal as an 18-year-old.

Although the striker won’t likely play first-team football for the first season or two, it is a testament for how high a reputation Arsenal still have on a global level despite two years without Champions League football and one world-class player.

Unai Emery’s mission to make Arsenal a powerhouse in world football again might be something that takes a while to execute, but by signing these wonderkids and exciting prospects, it will only add to his goal of rebuilding the club back to its former glory.

Arsenal fans, how excited would you be about Martinelli’s potential arrival? Should the club be focusing on more seasoned veterans? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

Ever since Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for an eye-watering £35 million in a shock deal during the final hours of the transfer window in January 2011, there have been rumours of him making a St James’ Park return.

As early as 16 months after he left, there was talk of The Magpies trying a cheeky loan bid for their former player.

When he was eventually moved on to West Ham, still the speculation persisted, even as recently as this January, with talk, again, of a loan deal until the end of the season.

And now there are rumours that Manuel Pellegrini will let him leave on a free this summer, with the Newcastle Chronicle suggesting that his boyhood club could have “one final chance” to re-sign him.

It seems that because he is a Geordie, and a life-long Newcastle fan, that he is a certainty to return to the club.

Well so are Ant and Dec, Sting and Jimmy Nail, but no one is expecting them to pull on the black and white shirt!

The phrase never go back has never been so apt as it has for Carroll, with Rafa Benitez — or whoever is in charge in the summer — surely not tempted to sign him.

The reasons to avoid are numerous: His £90,000 a week salary; his injury issues; his age — he is now 30-years-old; and his lack of goal-scoring.

If anyone at St James’ Park thinks he would be a better option, up front than Salomón Rondón, then they should be taking a long look at themselves.

The worry, of course, is that Mike Ashley may see the chance to bring a player in for nothing — particularly one he sold for a massively over-priced £35m — as a way of keeping costs down in his usual misguided vision of what might keep fans off his back.

Of course, on the flip-side, he is way out of the owner’s preferred age limit for signings, and it is highly unlikely that he would end up back on Tyneside, with the MLS his most likely destination.

It is insulting to the Geordie fans to keep constantly pushing his name down their throats, and more insulting that people actually think this is something they crave — it is not!

The lack of ambition such a signing would purvey would be as huge as the inflated fee they received for him eight years ago.

What do you think of the latest in a series of stories about bringing Carroll back to St James’ Park, Newcastle fans? Would you want him? Let us know…

If Portsmouth are to end the season in an automatic promotion spot, they might have Coventry to thank for it.

Their incredible 5-4 win over Sunderland allowed Portsmouth to climb level on points with the Black Cats after their own 4-1 thumping of Rochdale on the weekend, and with both teams with a game in hand over second place Barnsley and two points off the Tykes, the EFL Trophy finalists both have an opportunity to snatch an automatic promotion spot.

And a lot has happened since that EFL Trophy final between the two teams. Portsmouth have ridden the success winning the cup gave them almost to maximum usage, winning both games since Wembley whereas Sunderland have stumbled, winning just two of their four games after the final.

With the two teams set to meet each other again in two weeks time, it’s likely that the victor of that match will stand the best chance of claiming second place should Barnsley continue to fall behind of Luton Town in the league table, and Portsmouth’s mentality going into that massive game has been nothing but perfect.

The mood around the club is still on a high from the EFL Trophy final that has only grown stronger with each passing league games. The fans and players have the belief that they can go all the way and cause a League One upset by overtaking Barnsley in the table, and with how things are going for Pompey, it’s a possibility.

The EFL Trophy final has caused a domino effect across League One that has seen Sunderland falter and Portsmouth continue to rise, and now there is a genuine chance that Kenny Jackett’s side can do the unthinkable and finish this season in second place.

Portsmouth fans, do Pompey have what it takes to seal second place? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

This week Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce revealed that talks would commence over the future of Jordan Rhodes, according to quotes per the Sheffield Star.

Rhodes joined Wednesday in January 2017 on loan before completing a £10m permanent deal to the club in the following summer.

However he’s a player who hasn’t exactly set the world alight in Yorkshire and as a result, Owls fans are hoping they get rid of him at the end of the season.

Reacting to news that discussions would take place regarding the forward, one Wednesday supporter said he was at the top of their list to move on. Another fan claimed it would be a no brainer to cash in on him with the club needing the money.

A further member of the Hillsborough faithful claimed his best days were behind him.

The 29-year-old scored over 20 goals in consecutive seasons for Blackburn but since then has struggled in front of goal. Although he’s netted six goals in just nine league starts this term at Carrow Road, the fact he’s played the majority of his football from the bench shows where his career is at.

This summer has the potential to be a very busy period in regards to transfers for Wednesday with a number of contracts ending at the club.

Here’s what fans have been saying about Rhodes.

How disappointing has Theo Walcott been this season? He’s shown he’s really not good enough to take Everton to the next level, but David Neres certainly is.

The Ajax right winger has been impressing scouts across Europe and it seems Everton are no different, with Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola telling Yahoo Sports (via The Boot Room) that Everton are in talks to sign him in the summer.

The fee is reported to be a whopping £43.5m, but if that’s what they need to spend, then they certainly should considering his form this season. He’s made 29 appearances in the Eredivisie, making 11 assists and scoring eight goals in the process.

Compare that to Theo Walcott’s four goals and two assists then it’s clear to see the upgrade the club would be making. There’s been a big project being talked about at the club over the last few years and this will be the latest sign that it’s moving forward.

Marco Silva is building a youthful team to improve together over the next few years and David Neres fits the bill perfectly. He’s only 22-year-old and can play right across the front line, making him highly effective in fast counters, a cornerstone of Silva’s style.

The Brazilian would have Goodison on its feet rather than sat down groaning, as it has been so often this season when Theo Walcott has failed to make the most of an attack.

Frankly, Neres is a clear step forward and worth any fee Ajax demand.

Everton fans, who would you bring in to replace Theo Walcott? Join the discussion by commenting below…

[ad_pod ]

Unai Emery takes his Arsenal side to the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday needing a victory to boost morale in north London ahead of a vital few weeks.

Coming off a run of three defeats in four in the league, they face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City knowing that a rare away three points would boost their chances of squeezing back into the top four with Manchester United and Chelsea also facing off later on the same day at Old Trafford.

How will they line up?

Using the above graphic, we have predicted how the Gunners will line up in the East Midlands in their quest for only their second league away triumph since early February.

We’re sure Emery would have loved to have been able to make tonnes of changes from the shambolic performance that saw his side defeated 3-1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening.

However, with Aaron Ramsey still out of action and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang only fit enough to just return to the squad, he doesn’t have that luxury.

But he can freshen things up in the left-back position in the wake of a difficult night for Nacho Monreal in midweek, replacing him with Sead Kolasinac.

This is why we believe that Emery will make just one change to the Xl that took to the field at Molineux, Kolasinac in for Monreal, and not alter his 4-2-3-1 formation on Sunday.