Belgium are on their way to the knock-out stages of the World Cup after a dominant win over Tunisia, but football fans were not impressed with the performance of Celtic’s Dedryck Boyata.
The 27-year-old defender has been labelled as his side’s weak link so far in the tournament, especially after the clash with the Africans on Saturday.
England fans in particular appear to think he is someone who should be targeted ahead of the clash between the countries this Thursday.
The Hoops man has started both Belgium’s matches so far, part of a back three that includes Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. Injuries to the likes of Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen have ensured his selection.
Boyata has generally performed strongly for Celtic over the last two seasons, although high profile errors have led to criticism from some sections of the support.
With just a year left on his contract, there’s also been recent reports he could be on the move this summer, with Lazio credited with an interest.
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Onlookers took to Twitter on Saturday to share their thoughts on his Belgium performance…
Harry Kane played 180 minutes and Dele Alli 168 minutes for Tottenham Hotspur across the course of their 1-0 win against Arsenal in latest edition of the north London derby at Wembley, and their spirited 2-2 draw against Juventus in Turin in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Following those exertions Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino decided to only name the key duo on the substitutes’ bench when his team faced League One outfit Rochdale in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Spotland on Sunday.
The Argentine boss certainly would have been aware that it could prove to be a difficult match even though Keith Hill’s men currently lie at the bottom of England’s third tier, and with his side being taken to a replay by League Two club Newport County in the previous round.
However, Pochettino has a big squad full of quality players and he was willing to give those an opportunity to impress against Rochdale, while giving Kane and Alli a breather ahead of what is going to be a crucial end to the campaign.
The 45-year-old also wouldn’t have wanted a replay and another extra fixture, and with plenty of international experience in the starting XI with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Lucas Moura, Moussa Sissoko, Son Heung-Min and Fernando Llorente, he wouldn’t have been wrong to expect a routine victory.
Despite the absence of Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen, Alli and Kane from the line-up, no one could accuse Pochettino of taking their League One opponents lightly in a competition that is renowned for shock upsets.
Some of those players that had an opportunity to impress failed to do so however – especially in the first half – and they found themselves 1-0 down at the break thanks to Ian Henderson’s goal on the stroke of half-time.
They did find a little more rhythm in the second half and quickly took control of proceedings, with January signing Lucas netting his first Tottenham goal when he latched on to Moussa Sissoko’s pass through the middle before confidently finishing past Josh Lillis.
Spurs failed to make another breakthrough in the next part of the match and with 19 minutes left on the clock, Pochettino decided to introduce Alli in place of Lucas, while Kane followed five minutes later as he replaced Llorente following another sub-standard display from the Spaniard.
It didn’t take long for the duo to make an impact, and when Alli was brought down in the area Kane smashed home the penalty kick two minutes from time to give the visitors what looked like a ticket through to the quarter-finals.
However, Rochdale weren’t finished there and Steven Davies’ last-gasp strike saw Rochdale grab a deserved draw, and a dream replay at Wembley.
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While it was clear that Tottenham should have done better throughout the 90 minutes and should have been able to hold on once they took the lead in the 88th minute, Pochettino was criticised by some supporters on Twitter for not starting Kane and Alli from the start, wrapping the game up early and then taking them off in the second half.
Football of course doesn’t always work out like that however, and there would have been huge furore from those same supporters if Kane or Alli had picked up a serious injury against the League One outfit.
Pochettino got it right and it was some of those players that were given an opportunity in the XI that let themselves and the club down, rather than the failure to start the talismanic pair.
While having another match to play is certainly inconvenient given Spurs ambitions to finish in the top four and progress as far as they can in the latter stages of the Champions League, it is not a disaster and with the England duo once again on the substitutes’ bench for the replay against Rochdale at Wembley, they should have more than enough to see off the League One strugglers and set up a quarter-final tie with either Swansea City or Sheffield Wednesday.
With the FFP sanctioning on Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini will need to make very smart choices in selecting his upcoming signings during the transfer window. They cannot make unnecessary buys unless they really need them and will look add players who can make an immediate impact.
City have a very star-studded side with a lot of friendly competition for places, but is lacking any real stable partnership in the back line. Vincent Kompany is the only centre-back who will be selected week in week out as the club will need to search for a permanent fix.
We take a look at SIX players that can make and instant impact upon joining the club in order to help them retain the league trophy as well as battle it out in Europe.
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Isco
Name: Isco
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfield
Nationality: Spain
Club: Real Madrid
Price: £25 – £30 million
Although Manchester City already have a star-studded midfield, the addition of Isco could give Manuel Pellegrini’s squad extra depth in their bids to challenge for more trophies, especially the Champions League.
The fact that Real Madrid will need to balance their books since their signing of James Rodriguez, they could allow the likes of Isco to leave the club for a much cheaper price than expected. His bid for first time football could be another factor pushing him towards a La Liga exit.
Eliaquim Mangala
Name: Eliaquim Mangala
Age: 23
Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: France
Club: FC Porto
Price: £20 – £25 million
Manchester City have their fair share of right and left backs, but somehow lack adequate cover in central defence. Although they have one of the best centre-backs in the English Premier League with Vincent Kompany, they don’t have somehow who is capable of creating a long term partnership with him.
Mangala is somebody who has been impressive over the past season and could easily step into the physicality of the league as he could use Kompany as his role model. Manuel Pellegrini should consider added him into his defence if he wants to avoid any last minute season defying injuries.
Paul Pogba
Name: Paul Pogba
Age: 21
Position: Central Midfield
Nationality: France
Club: Juventus
Price: £40 – £45 million
Paul Pogba recently won the award for best young player at the World Cup and if that isn’t enough to show just how good it is, then nothing will sway you. Having him in the squad will be seen as an instant boost in quality as he won’t need too much time to adapt to the English game.
Having been let go from Manchester United, Pogba could want the chance to hit back at his former employers to show just how big a mistake they made when they considered him to not be good enough to play for United. Since he already made a few Red Devils appearances in the past, he would already know how the game is played.
Diego Godin
Name: Diego Godin
Age: 28
Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: Uruguay
Club: Atletico Madrid
Price: £20 – £25 million
Diego Godin is another centre-back that could easily step into the Manchester City defensive role and make an instant impact with his vast experience for club and country. Having been part of the Atletico Madrid that boast the best La Liga defensive record as well as winning the entire league proves that he is an amazing player.
As a defender he even managed to net seven goals the previous season, only with a vital headed goal for the Uruguayan national team that defeated Italy 1-0 at the World Cup. His aerial presence both in attack and defence is a huge asset to whichever team can acquire his services.
Mats Hummels
Name: Mats Hummels
Age: 25
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Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: Germany
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Price: £25 – £30 million
Mats Hummels made himself one of the world’s best centre-backs with his display at the World Cup as he showcased his talents both defensively and in the attack. He managed to net two goals in Brazil, the most important one being the all important header against France that ended the match at 1-0.
Although being heavily linked with league rivals Manchester United, any concrete deal isn’t in negotiations leaving a possibility he could consider a switch elsewhere. Hummels is someone who can surely form a long-term partnership with club captain Vincent Kompany.
Raphael Varane
Name: Raphael Varane
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: France
Club: Real Madrid
Price: £25 – £30 million
Dubbed as one of the best young centre-backs in the world, Manchester City should really consider making a move for Raphael Varane. Although only 21, he has a stable role at Real Madrid as well as for the French national team where he continues to impress. If they ever want to find a suitable replacement for Vincent Kompany, then this is as close as they will get.
Latest rumours suggest that Varane is still considering his options and he is still waiting for a new contract offer which will see him triple his current salary so that he can be more in par with other Real Madrid stars. Should talks of a new deal be put on hold, Manuel Pellegrini may want to find a way lure him away from Spain.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has confirmed that discussions regarding Danny Simpson’s new contract have been suspended until the new year.
The right-back is a key part of the Premier League side’s defensive unit, but with his current deal due to expire at the end of the campaign, there are serious doubts about his long-term future.
However, Pardew revealed that Simpson’s plans rely heavily on the club’s fortunes in the January transfer market:
“Danny will have to wait and see what happens in the window,” He is quoted as saying by ESPN.
“The club has most players on long-term contracts and Danny is the exception to that.”
The 25-year-old has allegedly turned down a £25,000-per-week deal to extend his stay at the club, leading many to believe that ‘The Toon’ may look for a replacement during the winter.
It’s been rumoured the club may make another approach for Lille’s Mathieu Debuchy during January as a replacement. Pardew actively pursued the Frenchman during the summer, but was unable to conclude a deal despite the player openly wanting to move to St. James’ Park.
If Simpson does find himself forced out, the likes of Aston Villa and Fulham have been suggested as potential interested parties.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Pardew believes that Simpson is a useful member of his squad:
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“He is underrated by our fanbase, but his defensive work is important,
Nottingham Forest have prioritised a pursuit for Bournemouth forward Lewis Grabban, according to the Nottingham Post.
What’s the word?
Manager Aitor Karanka is believed to be keen to bolster his attacking options for the gruelling Championship season ahead.
The club failed to launch a serious promotion challenge last season, but it will be their main objective for the 2018-19 campaign.
The Nottingham Post reports that Nelson Oliveira and Patrick Bamford have attracted the Reds’ attention, but Grabban is the main target.
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The forward has been on Bournemouth’s books since 2016, but he has had loan spells at Reading, Aston Villa and Sunderland.
Last season, Grabban scored 20 goals in all competitions across spells at Sunderland and Villa, and it is likely that the Cherries will consider offloading given that he could not get into Eddie Howe’s recent team.
Is Grabban a good option?
Even though the calibre of opposition is of a higher quality in the Premier League compared to that in the Championship, the second tier is tough to wade through.
The fixtures come thick and fast, and if a team wants to earn their way into the top flight, they need players that can handle the demand.
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Grabban is well-versed in the Championship, and last season he proved that he can score in the competitive division.
Forest need a proven hitman that can be relied on for scoring goals, and Grabban can certainly be that man.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce relieved some of the pressure that was building on his shoulders when his side beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Just a week previously, the Toffees had been thrashed 5-1 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and with a 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur also coming on the road last month, the Goodison Park faithful were starting to get impatient with the 63-year-old, who was never really a popular appointment.
The former England boss signed a deal until June 2019 when he was announced as Ronald Koeman’s successor in November, but it remains to be seen whether he will see that contract out given that he is seemingly struggling to win over his own supporters.
If he does continue on Merseyside for the 2018/19 campaign, there will certainly be some Toffees players that won’t be happy with the news and will believe that they will on their way out at the end of the season.
Here are three Everton players that have no future at the club if Allardyce stays this summer…
Davy Klaassen
The Netherlands international was one of the big-money arrivals at Goodison Park during the summer transfer window from whom big things were expected of, but the attacking midfielder struggled in the early stages of the campaign under former boss Ronald Koeman.
When the Dutchman was sacked, the 24-year-old wasn’t given too many opportunities under caretaker boss David Unsworth, and he would finally have been hoping for a clean slate when Sam Allardyce took charge.
It hasn’t been the case though, and he has only made the matchday squad once since the 63-year-old was appointed – playing the full 90 minutes in the dead rubber Europa League tie against Apollon Limassol.
It seems as though the only thing that could save Klaassen’s Everton career now is a new manager, and if Allardyce stays this summer he will almost certainly be on his way.
Ashley Williams
The Wales international’s contract is due to run out in the summer of 2019, and seeing as he is 33 years of age it seems unlikely that he will be handed a new one.
Even though Eliaquim Mangala and Michael Keane – who was hauled off after 45 minutes – both struggled in the three-man defence in the 5-1 defeat against Arsenal, it was Williams who was dropped to the substitutes’ bench against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
If Allardyce does stay this summer he could look to sign Mangala on a permanent basis, and it would be no surprise to see him target another new centre-back too given the club’s defensive troubles this season.
If that happened, it would be difficult to see Williams having a future at Goodison Park beyond the summer.
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Morgan Schneiderlin
Allardyce came out and backed the Frenchman after he was booed when he came on as a substitute in the 3-1 win against Palace on Saturday, but that certainly doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t consider selling the 28-year-old in the summer.
The former England boss decided to drop the midfielder to the substitutes’ bench following another disappointing display against Arsenal – Schneiderlin has struggled for form all season – and the fact that Idrissa Gueye, Wayne Rooney and Tom Davies were all picked ahead of him against the Eagles is perhaps a sign for the future.
His poor relationship with the fans and the fact that he could probably still fetch a decent price could mean he is one that Allardyce looks to move on at the end of the campaign if the manager is to stay at Goodison Park next season.
Today was always going to be about David Moyes and to be honest; I am starting to feel a bit sorry for him now.The task to continue United’s success after Sir Alex was always going to be tough but nobody thought it would be this hard.Team selection is often scrutinised but it has been even more so at Old Trafford this season and to be honest, I can see why.Chopping and changing your side is a dangerous ploy, even more so when you clearly don’t have the strength in depth to do so like Moyes.Players at the top of their game should be able to play three games in a week, so I’m not buying the resting of key players. Here is why Moyes needs to find his best team and stick to it.
Defensive partnerships
Captain Nemanja Vidic is leaving at the end of the season, at the first glance of things getting tough.
Rio Ferdinand can only play once a week at most so the pressure is on the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to step up now.
Michael Carrick played at centre half last week at West Ham and United didn’t have a defender on the bench today.
Trusting the future stars
It has been all too easy for David Moyes to give the nod to Ashley Young, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra this season when to be honest – he shouldn’t have.
One of Sir Alex’s many fantastic attributes was his ability to blend youth and experience for crucial games and he wasn’t afraid to throw them in.
Adnan Januzaj has been excellent when he has played this season but Moyes seems to ignore the youngster – as well as refusing to even give Wilfried Zaha and Michael Keane a chance.
Stick to a midfield shape
With the addition of Juan Mata in January, David Moyes is now, understandably, doing all he can to fit the Spaniard into his side.
However, sacrificing his entire shape to fit Mata, Wayne Rooney and van Persie in has simply not worked and so he needs to find the partnership and soon.
Sticking to a system and tactic will only help the players find their own consistency and surely Moyes has to take that on board.
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For your chance to WIN two tickets to see Everton vs Manchester United on Sunday April 20 AND a copy of FIFA14, simply comment below with your score prediction for the game
[ffccomp link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/win-tickets-to-everton-vs-manchester-united-a-copy-of-fifa-14″oneliner=”For your chance to WIN two tickets to Everton vs Manchester United on Sunday April 20 AND a copy of FIFA14, simply comment below with your score prediction for the game…” step=”PREDICT THE SCORE
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As Manchester United currently sit top of the Premier League and have just stormed their way into the Champions League last-16, all seems to be rosy at Old Trafford.
Many believe this is due to their sheer firepower upfront with Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez being the fearsome trio that have dug United out of so many holes already this season; Danny Welbeck is also on the fringes waiting to take his chance.
The arrival of Van Persie in particular has been hailed by some as arguably the biggest marquee signing of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at the club; and one which has helped to ease the goalscoring burden on Rooney.
It has led to comparisons with the legendary strike force of the treble-winning 1998/99 side, featuring Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
So it provokes the question of which strike force is better? The current trio have got off to a flyer; with Van Persie netting 11 times already this season, while Hernandez has six strikes to his name and Rooney has scored three times.
Meanwhile, with limited first-team opportunities in the current campaign, Welbeck has yet to break his duck.
In 1998/99, the four United strikers netted 76 goals between them, with Yorke scoring 29 times in his debut season at the club, Cole netting 24 times, Solskjaer adding 18 strikes to the tally, whilst Sheringham contributed with five.
At the end of May, it may be unwise to bet against the current United crop at least equalling or even bettering that total; with 20 goals between them already.
In order to judge which strikeforce is ultimately better, it comes down to comparing the attributes of the individual players involved.
With both players in their respective debut seasons at the club, it would be fair to compare Van Persie with Yorke. Both players in their prime are obviously capable of scoring goals on a regular basis, with Yorke quickly forming a good partnership alongside Cole; while the Dutchman has established a good rapport with Rooney.
However, I believe Van Persie has the edge in this particular comparison, as he can be a threat anywhere on the pitch and produce an individual piece of brilliance out of nothing. Despite Yorke being a superb finisher on his day, he perhaps did not have the same level of genius as the former Arsenal man.
As players, Van Persie may have the edge, but Yorke’s understanding with Cole seemed to be telepathic; not something you could say that with the same confidence in referring to the Dutchman’s working relationship alongside Rooney.
Rooney himself is the ideal support striker or foil man in the operation, finding the runs of Van Persie and Hernandez in space, but it remains to be seen whether he can formulate a similar level of understanding that Sheringham managed with Yorke, Cole and Solskjaer.
Finally, one must compare the supposed ‘super subs’, Javier Hernandez and Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer.
The Norwegian baby-faced assassin made a living out of coming off the bench to score crucial goals for Ferguson’s team; the most notable instance occurring in the 8-1 destruction of a hapless Nottingham Forest side, where Solskjaer came off the bench to score four goals.
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In comparison, ‘Chicharito’ has similar qualities, with his lightning finishing inside the box, but has not always come on with the same impact as Solskjaer.
Meanwhile in my opinion, Welbeck is the poorest of the three players, meaning the whole unit is let down as a whole. The 21-year-old works hard for the team and can hold the ball up reasonably well, but his finishing ability and ball control leaves a lot to be desired.
Despite United’s strike force containing superb individual talents, it has to be said that the ’99 forward line has the edge due to the incredible level of understanding between the four players. But the current crop will still score enough goals to ensure the team challenges for major honours once again.
Do you agree? I would love to hear your opinions on twitter. Follow me: @JamesHilsum
According to reports in Portugal, Everton are chasing Sporting CP winger Gelson Martins, but is he better than what they already have?
A report from A Bola this week claims William Carvalho is not the only Sporting CP player Everton are eying up this summer, as new director of football Marcel Brands is keen to tap into the Portuguese market.
A Bola claim Bas Dost and Martins are both on Brands’ shopping list, and a move for Martins seems particularly enticing.
The 23 year-old still has plenty of room to develop, but has had an incredible season for Sporting, grabbing eight goals and eight assists in 31 league games.
The young speedster’s balance and close control make him almost impossible to dispossess, and his lack of size and strength is offset by his wonderful low centre of gravity.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
However, Martins predominantly plays on the right hand side, and having just brought Theo Walcott in six months ago, he would be an extravagant signing to say the least.
Walcott struggled slightly after a hot start to his Everton career, but he is much more experienced than Martins, can match him for pace, and shouldn’t be punished for what he was or wasn’t able to do under the much maligned Sam Allardyce.
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Martins is an excellent young player, but Everton should be more focused on solidifying their paper thin midfield, and shouldn’t splash out on a player who may not even dislodge Walcott.
So, Everton fans, would you back a move for Martins? Or would you prefer Walcott on the right wing next season? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…
Reports in The Sun on Sunday on January 28 suggested that Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Gremio forward and Brazil international Luan for £17.5m before the January transfer window slams shut on Wednesday, in what has been another disappointing month in the market so far for manager Rafa Benitez.
The Spaniard was furious this time last year when the Tyneside outfit failed to bring anyone in to boost their promotion push, but as it turned out it didn’t prove to be significant as the Toon secured an instant return to the Premier League as champions on the final day of the season.
The summer transfer window didn’t go to plan for the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss either, and he certainly would have liked to have added more Premier League experience – and quality in general – to his squad than he did, while he also didn’t get the goalkeeper that he wanted.
Takeover talks in recent months would have excited the 57-year-old as he would have been potentially getting the financial backing from a new owner that hasn’t always been forthcoming under Mike Ashley, but the news that the Sports Direct tycoon pulled out of talks with Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners group last month certainly wouldn’t have been well received.
Benitez claimed last month that he wanted all of his January business done by the 20th, yet on Deadline Day they have only signed Chelsea winger Kenedy on loan, while they have so far failed to secure a deal for Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen and lost out to fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion in the race to sign Liverpool centre-forward Daniel Sturridge on loan.
Newcastle and Ashley know that the club needs to end the window on a high to convince Rafa to not only want to stay, but also to prove their ambition for the future as they look to secure their Premier League status for at least another year – the Magpies currently lie in 15th position and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Bringing Luan to St James’ Park would certainly be a statement of intent, and it would boost a manager and a passionate fan base that will be frustrated with recent events on and off the pitch.
The 24-year-old attacker has long been linked with a move to Liverpool, and that is of little surprise as he has scored 36 goals and provided a further 22 assists in 131 appearances for Gremio, according to Transfermarkt.
His form for the Brazilian outfit has seen him called up to play for the Brazil national team on two occasions so far, and he ended 2017 with 15 goals and six assists in 32 matches.
Luan usually plays as a second striker but he has also played as an attacking midfielder, right winger and even as a centre-forward for Gremio in the past, showing his versatility.
While he isn’t the best at winning balls in the air, WhoScored.com lists his strengths as his ability to finish, holding on to the ball, playing through balls and key passes and his passing in general.
The 24-year-old made 37 key passes in 20 Brazilian top flight games in 2017, while he had an overall passing accuracy of 83.5%.
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The forward is a creator and has shown that he can be a goalscorer, and while there is certainly no guarantee that he would be an instant success in the Premier League – as there isn’t with any player that arrives from abroad – Luan looks to have the ability to make a big impression in England.
There is a feeling around St James’ Park and from a neutral point of view that Newcastle need to pull something big out of the bag on Deadline Day, and bringing Luan to the club could be the proof of ambition that Rafa needs to see to convince him that his long-term future lies on Tyneside.