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amoveablejake · 4 years ago

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The Inevitable Preview Piece

Right, I’ll say it now. This piece was inevitable, even if I didn’t realise it at first. Ofcourse I was always going to write a Premier League prediction piece, it was just a matter of time as to when this fact would hit me. As the season starts this weekend the past week or so has been full of predictions all over the place from podcasts I listen to, to different articles online and now I have this platform I thought why not put my thoughts in, which when the league ends I will undoubtedly look back upon and laugh at. Anyway, shall we begin because we have a fair bit to get through and I can already tell some of you may be skipping to the next segment. I promise I’ll try and make this at least somewhat interesting for those of you who don’t care. Maybe I’ll try and give each team a little title, that will keep you reading, right? Right? (Sigh)

Arsenal: The train that runs out of steam.

Arsenal always start well. I know that, you know that, we all know that. They are a team who always start well by playing exciting football and for a while their fans start to think, hey, maybe this will be our year after all. The thing is though, the first ten matches of the Premier League are the days of wine and roses and they don’t matter as much as you’d think. Its always after this honeymoon period ends that Arsenal hit a slump and run out of steam and maybe they’ll pick it back up at times but they never truly get back on track. I do however think they’ll do slightly better this year so I’m going to say they’ll finish fifth. I like Arteta what can I say.

Aston Villa: The Royal team.

Whilst Prince William supports Aston Villa I don’t think even his Royal support will spur them on to play exciting football. They had a relegation scrap last year and I see the same for them once again. I will admit that until I looked at the list to see who is in the league this year I had forgotten they were still in the top flight. I think that speaks for itself. I think that Aston Villa will finish seventeenth and will survive once again by the skin of their teeth. Sadly.

Brighton and Hove Albion: Seagulls take flight.

I don’t know why, but I have a funny feeling Brighton might do a bit better than usual this year. They always seem to finish around the middle to bottom of the table but I think that they might keep themselves in a European conversation, for a little while at least. The addition of Adam Lallana is a very positive one and I think they will prove to upset some of the bigger name teams over the course of the season. Plus they have a very swish new home kit and I sort of do have a soft spot for them. Predicted finish: Ninth, hey, its on the right track.

Burnley: You again?

Burnley is another team that I always forget exists, let alone in the Premier League. I’ll keep this one short, I think they’ll finish fifteenth. Now I’m not being mean, I hope that they have a nice season and their fans enjoy watching them play. I won’t though, I have paint to watch dry.

Chelsea: Money can’t buy happiness.

Okay, okay, I’ll admit it, I do not like Chelsea. At all. Yes they have quite a nice new home shirt and technically, technically, they are the closest Premier League team to where I was born however, they don’t get my support. To me Chelsea have always felt like the bad guys and perhaps that is unwarranted but what can I say. I just don’t like the Death Star. The boys in blue have spent a lot, and I mean A LOT, this summer but will it work? I don’t think so. They have bought excellent players in but the problem is Frank had a good team of youngsters already and I think by bringing in a lot of new players he has shown he doesn’t have faith in those younger players afterall and I don’t know if the team will form a solid base this time around. I see Chelsea coming in sixth and honestly, I don’t know if Mr. Lampard will make it to the end of the season.

Crystal Palace: Please, just let Zaha leave.

I’m never that convinced by Crystal Palace. That isn’t to say they’re not very good, they do have moments of prowess and do show signs of making it into the Europa League but then they tend to lose silly matches. I think the club might be nearing the end of its relationship with Roy Hodgson and after he leaves it might get a little shaky for a while. And the will they let him go or won’t they dance they have with Zaha every year is getting very tiring and I can’t imagine its good for the team’s atmosphere. Please, just let the man leave whilst you end up finishing in thirteenth.

Everton: Just how Everton can Everton be.

Everton are managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Everton. That is quite something. I’m still not sure if I believe it and honestly, I don’t think Carlo does either. Yes he has signed old pal James Rodriguez this summer which for my money is a fantastic new addition however, I don’t see Carlo seeing out the season at Merseyside. Its not the club for him and thats fine. I think they will show moments of looking pretty good but ultimately Everton will do what Everton is destined to do. And that is finish tenth.

Fulham: Don’t Cry For Me Brentford

I’ll keep this one short. I wanted Brentford to go up in the playoff final. Fulham didn’t deserve it. Thats right, I said it. I don’t want them here, I am still bitter and I’m not crying, you’re crying! But whats this I see through my years, I see Fulham finishing in nineteenth and me tasting sweet, sweet revenge.

Leeds: They used to be quite big right.

From what I’ve heard, Leeds used to be quite a big team. People were scared of them. The thing is, I am too young to remember those days so I don’t have the respect for them that some do. I am pleased that their fans finally got to see this return and I don’t think they’ll shoot right down again, in fact I think they’ll do reasonably well. I see them finishing fourteenth, which isn’t bad for a first season in the Premier League. They will show moments early on I think where people will say they’re going to do exceedingly well, but once again, never trust the first ten games.

Leicester City: Believe in yourself.

The foxes feel like a team that are running on the water and then when they realise what they’re doing they lose their confidence and sink. They are a team which as we know can be exceedingly good, they can be a joy to watch and whats more their players always look happy to be out there. Last season they were flying very high indeed especially on a rainy night in Southampton however, they tend to lose their confidence in themselves and I think they might do the same again this year. Also, Vardy is a great player but his back must be getting heavy carrying that attack. I think that this time around Leicester will take eighth place. Thats not a comment on them but more so on how close I think those top eight places are going to be.

Liverpool: Foot off the gas.

Liverpool are the best team in Britain at the moment. Maybe. Well they were for the past couple of years but now, I’m not too convinced. Why, why do I doubt such a strong team, its because there have been no changes. There haven’t really been any transfers and hey if something isn’t broken why fix it. I’ll tell you why, because whilst you were out there on your boat, enjoying the sun, looking around at your crew who you realised that they are all getting that much older and they’re very comfortable in their roles. In fact, they don’t really have to fight. They seem to have lost that hunger, a hunger that all the sharks growing underneath the boat certainly have and you better believe the moment they smell blood they’re going to surface. I think Liverpool will finish in third. They will still challenge for the title but it won’t be coming back to Anfield this time around.

Manchester City: A team with Pep.

Manchester City were bad last year. Yes they came second but they were so far behind Liverpool it was not a successful season. They only won one trophy also which by their standards is not good and it wasn’t even the Champions League or FA Cup. I think this season they’re going to be back to their old ways, not in a perfect way however, there are a lot of holes in that team (a new defender and striker would be good) but they do have Kevin De Bruyne and that man is from another realm. Do I see City lifting the Premier League, honestly, no, I think they might win everything else but not this.

Manchester United: I’m allowed to be biased okay.

Yes, I do support Manchester United and yes I do know that makes me biased however, I do have a sneaking suspicion they will win the Premier League. Whys that, well it might not look like it yet but I think some more transfers are coming both now and in January. The arrival of Van De Beek is also very welcome and I think the squad will start to believe in itself more and they’ll definitely improve as that confidence comes back. Don’t get me wrong, it won’t be a beautiful win, infact I think they will win on the final day and the whole title race this year will be very close but I don’t know, I have a feeling that they’ll do it. Either that or I’ll be crushed when they get relegated.

Newcastle United: Mike Ashley out.

For once Newcastle have made some good signings this summer, good sensible signings and they have kept Steve Bruce on which I think is a good thing however, with Mike Ashley still being the owner and that ever present cloud hanging over the team I don’t think they’ll ever really hit their stride. Sadly I see them finishing in sixteenth although I would really like to see them finish higher.

Sheffield United: My soft spot.

I have absolutely no idea but ever since I was little I have had a soft spot for the Blades and after their very impressive performance last year I would like to see them do well again. However, I think the end of the loan spell with Dean Henderson will hurt and they didn’t look as strong post the lockdown pause so I see them coming eleventh which is still good just not as good we’d like. We being me and a team always keep an eye on.

Southampton: It was nice whilst it lasted.

Southampton again had a very good year last year and I’m sure that their fans are hoping for more of the same however, I think that this time around the top half of the table is going to be a much fiercer, closer battle and sadly that will be at the detriment of teams like Southampton who will find themselves twelfth and it won’t really be their fault. I would like to see them head into Europe as they are my local team but I don’t think that they will this time around.

Tottenham Hotspur: No prime delivery.

Despite the fancy Amazon documentary coming out and Jose being Jose, I think that Tottenham will do exactly what their fans have sadly grown used to which is showing signs of being a top four team but ultimately making silly mistakes and losing against teams that they really shouldn’t which will slide them down to seventh. I hope for their fans that they win something this year, anything really but when it comes to Spurs you just never can tell. What am I saying, you can and they won’t.

West Bromwich Albion: Someone has to do it.

Someone has to finish last and it will be West Brom. Do I really need to say anything else. I suppose I should say something nice, um, I’ve heard that you can buy a nice pie at their stadium. A nice pie to soak up the tears when they get relegated.

West Ham United: Time to learn.

I want West Ham United to get relegated. Why? Because they need to learn. Not the players, not the manager but the club. The club is run horribly and they constantly make bad decisions whether it be getting rid of promising young players, signing players at big costs to no avail or to have a constant merry go round of managers. Its a shambles and thats a shame because they have a very nice home kit and I do sort of like West Ham. With that in mind they’ll finish eighteenth and I’ll be happy about it so that they come back stronger.

Wolves: Hear them howl.

I like Wolves. In fact my favourite animal is a wolf but thats not why I have a fondness for Wolverhampton Wanderers. No, thats because they are a good team, with a great manager, who make sensible signings, seem to be run well, sadly have a horrific kit but play very good, classic football. I like the players, I like the team and I always want to see them do well and upset the establishment. Even when one player rubs baby oil on his tree trunk arms so the other players can’t grab hold of him. He’s good enough to not make someone do that but hey, there are worse jobs to have (see playing for Burnley for further details). I think Wolves will finish fourth this time around and will reach the Champions League. I also think they’ll do well in the FA Cup and will win more praise that they definitely deserve.

So there we have it, we made it. How will these predictions pan out, probably not very well but hey, its not like I’ve written them down so I can be mocked with them later.

- Jake, a man who is fully aware he can never go to Burnley now, 13/09/2020

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classyfoxdestiny · 3 years ago

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Premier League predictions 2021-22: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four

Defending champions Manchester City have won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons – but can anyone stop them this time?

Manchester United were City’s nearest rivals last time out but finished 12 points back and have still not sustained a serious title bid since they were last champions in 2013.

Will United challenge for top spot until the end in 2021-22? How will Liverpool respond after their title defence imploded at the start of the year? Can Chelsea be contenders again domestically after conquering Europe? And will Leicester, Arsenal, Tottenham or anyone else break into the Champions League places?

We asked 20 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections.

Alan Shearer Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Fara Williams Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Sue Smith Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Chris Sutton Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Rachel Brown-Finnis Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Matthew Upson Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Rob Green Chelsea Liverpool Man City Man Utd Martin Keown Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Micah Richards Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Stephen Warnock Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Danny Murphy Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Mark Lawrenson Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Ashley Williams Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Clinton Morrison Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Michael Brown Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Pat Nevin Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Leon Osman Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Nedum Onuoha Man City Man Utd Liverpool Chelsea Lindsay Johnson Man City Man Utd Chelsea Liverpool Jermaine Beckford Man City Chelsea Man Utd Leicester

Five teams feature in the forecasted top fours, but only City, United and Chelsea feature in all 20.

In terms of who will win it, City are favourites, with 13 votes. Chelsea get seven, while the highest anyone thinks United or Liverpool will finish is second. The overall predicted ranking gives a similar outcome.

1. Man City 2. Chelsea 3. Man Utd 4. Liverpool 5. Leicester 72 pts 62 pts 33 pts 32 pts 1 pt

(using system of 4 pts for a 1st place, 3 pts for 2nd, 2 pts for 3rd and 1 pt for 4th)

Which transfer would affect three pundits’ title predictions?

The predictions were made on Thursday, 12 August, with just under three weeks to go before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 31 August.

Alan Shearer: Some major signings have already happened, but there are more to come that will affect the title race. I’m expecting it to be much tighter at the top than last time, with four teams in with a chance of being champions, not just City and Chelsea.

Alan Shearer joins Ian Wright and Gary Lineker on Match of the Day this Saturday at 22:20 BST on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of seven Premier League games.

Chris Sutton: If Harry Kane goes to Manchester City, then he is the perfect fit for them and I would fancy them. If he doesn’t, I think Chelsea will nick it, because they are getting Romelu Lukaku. I don’t think City will win the title without signing a centre-forward. I know they won it last season largely playing without one, which was remarkable. I don’t see it happening again.

Matthew Upson: As things stand, I’d back Chelsea. It looks as if Lukaku is definitely going there, while things are very different with City and Kane – who knows if that will happen? It’s a big ask for them to win the league again without a new striker but, if they do get Kane, that turns that problem position into a massive positive – and I’d change my prediction.

Sue Smith: Chelsea will have massive confidence from winning the Champions League but if City can get Kane, then I’d put them on top instead.

Guardiola was a ‘massive factor’ in Grealish joining Man City

Pat Nevin: City have already added Jack Grealish, who is exactly the right player for them and there is the possibility of Kane, who is perfect too because he is so creative and adaptable. Arguably he’s the player that Pep tried to turn Sergio Aguero into, and I can’t think of many strikers so well suited to City’s style.

If they get him, they are big favourites. If they don’t, they are just marginal favourites.

Man City – ‘A team of Galacticos’

This is the sixth season running where Manchester City have featured in everyone’s forecasted top four. It’s also the fourth successive year where no-one thinks they will finish below second.

Micah Richards: It’s tougher than ever to call it this season but I am still going to say City, even if they don’t get Kane. John Stones has signed a new deal and, with him and Ruben Dias, the defence is sorted. When you look at their options in midfield and going forward, it’s just not fair on the other teams and, with the form that Raheem Sterling was in at the Euros, they still have to be favourites.

Micah Richards and Dion Dublin are the guests on Football Focus on BBC One and the BBC Sport website at 12:00 BST on Saturday.

Danny Murphy: My gut feeling is that City are going to be really difficult to knock off their perch. They and Liverpool will just about have the edge on everyone but not by much – the top four will be really tight.

Nedum Onuoha: I look at how good City were defensively last season and think they will be strong enough to win the title again. But I think this year will be the first time in a while where there will be more than two teams in with a shout at the very end. City have made an excellent signing in Grealish but their rivals have strengthened well too.

Jermaine Beckford: They are so powerful. Stones and Dias have formed a brilliant relationship and City don’t really have a weakness any more.

Michael Brown: My only doubt is if they don’t get Kane, or another striker.

Ashley Williams: City are the best team and squad in the league. They have added Grealish and if they get Kane then the title is done. Even without Kane, or another top-class striker, as a team they have got goals everywhere and their style of play doesn’t need a recognised centre-forward. I’m expecting a more productive season from Sterling too.

Martin Keown: What I am really excited about is seeing how Grealish will play under Guardiola, after seeing the effect Pep has had on Sterling and Phil Foden already. Now we have another talented English player in his hands, and Grealish has a team of Galacticos around him.

Chelsea – ‘The depth in their squad is scary’

Last season, no-one thought Chelsea would win the title and only two out of 25 pundits thought they would make the top two. This time, seven out of 20 pundits think they will be champions and 80% think they will make the top two.

Pat Nevin: I’ve been at all their pre-season games and have looked at the depth they have got in their squad and it is actually scary – and that’s before Lukaku has arrived. If you add him on top of Kai Havertz, who could be, certainly over the next few years, one of the great players in the world, and look all the way through their squad, then they have got so much quality.

Fara Williams: We saw the impact Thomas Tuchel made in the second half of last season and how hard Chelsea are to beat. Lukaku’s goals will turn a lot of draws into wins.

Rob Green: Their squad is stronger than everyone else’s, even City. Then you add Lukaku, who will bring the best out of everyone else.

Martin Keown: Lukaku is a player you have to keep hungry so I think this is the perfect move for him, going back to a club where he has something to prove.

Ashley Williams: Chelsea made big improvements last season and I think they will be better again. I played with Lukaku at Everton so I know him quite well – his goal record for us was incredible but having seen him play for Inter Milan and Belgium, he’s even better now. It’s as if he has recognised his own ability and strengths more than he did before, and he knows when and where to use them. I still speak to him a lot and he has worked hard on his game – it’s mentally where he has got stronger, because he has always been a beast physically.

Ashley Williams joins Dion Dublin and Jason Mohammad on Final Score on Saturday, from 14:30 BST on the red button and the BBC Sport website and from 16:00 on BBC One.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel celebrates winning the Champions League with his family

Stephen Warnock: Tactically, they are so well organised under Tuchel, and it looks a happy camp too. He has created the perfect environment of having the authority that means no-one steps out of line, but the players like him too.

Michael Brown: They have got the belief now too, which is massive. They have gone from wondering ‘where will we finish?’ to thinking ‘we’ve got every chance’. They will be right in the mix.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: Tuchel consolidated at first and made them difficult to break down, now he is adding more firepower as well. If Lukaku clicks with their creative players, they will just be awesome but I just feel they will have the edge because of how hard they have been to beat.

Chris Sutton: Tuchel has not just sorted them out defensively, he has added a really nice balance to their team. Timo Werner will benefit from his first year in England, and Havertz also came into form at the end of the season. If there was a criticism of Chelsea last time, it was that they possibly weren’t ruthless enough but with Lukaku they will have a guy in who is an absolute glutton for goals.

Jadon Sancho joins an already fearsome United attacking line-up for the new season. Also in their squad are (left to right) Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani

Man Utd – Will Sancho give them the ‘X-factor’?

Last season, 24 out of 25 pundits thought they would make the top four although 17 of the votes they received placed them in fourth. This time, 100% think they will finish in the top four and 11 out of 20 think they will finish third or higher, although only two people have backed them to finish second.

Chris Sutton: United missed a great opportunity to win the Europa League last season, which would have taken the pressure off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by ending his wait for a trophy. They still had a good season but there is something missing – they have to show greater consistency and be able to take the game to the opposition. The other three top teams have a better balance about them but maybe Jadon Sancho will give them that X-factor.

Nedum Onuoha: If Sancho’s game can translate to the Premier League, then that is a huge coup for United. I can’t wait to see how he gets on.

Micah Richards: United have shown that they can beat anyone but they seem to have too many off-days over the course of the season and for me they are a couple of players short of being a title-winning side – including a centre-forward. Edinson Cavani is 34 and at the stage of his career where he needs looking after. He can’t play every week and they don’t have another striker like him.

Pat Nevin: It feels like Manchester United have been trying to sort out that centre-back position forever and, finally, by getting Raphael Varane in alongside Harry Maguire it looks right. I suspect it will turn out that way too, but let’s hold fire slightly to see – Varane was always lightning quick when he was younger but I have watched him a few times recently and wondered if he had lost half a yard of pace. I will only find out by watching him in the Premier League.

Matthew Upson: There is a lot of guesswork involved here until the season starts but Varane looks a really good signing, and one they needed to make. He and Harry Maguire are a world-class pairing at the back and that is going to make a huge difference for them.

Ashley Williams: You can’t ask for more from a centre-half partnership. My only question is whether Varane hits the ground running or does he need time to settle in. I’ve never played in La Liga so I am not saying there are easy games there but in the Premier League you are tested even by the poorer teams, and in different ways. Varane is vastly experienced but I’m not sure he will have come up against many teams like Burnley who have really physical strikers such as Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. It doesn’t sound glamorous but they make your life difficult for 90 minutes. He has won everything there is to win, though, so I am sure he will cope with that.

Stephen Warnock: I see it as a four-horse race this year but the only difference between United and the other three is with their manager – I don’t think Solskjaer is the man to win the title. He’s done well tactically in some games but there have been times when something is not quite right and if you had given United’s squad to Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola or Tuchel last season, I think they all would have won the league. I am not sure he is the right man to take United to the next level.

Martin Keown: I have United down as finishing fourth but this title race is as open as it will ever be. They have made two brilliant signings, and they mean business. I am only picking this order because I have been asked to – and if they were to win it, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Liverpool’s only signing so far this summer saw France centre-back Ibrahima Konate join for £36m from RB Leipzig

Liverpool – A strong team but how deep is their squad?

Last season, 52% of the BBC pundits thought Liverpool would defend their title, while 21 out of 25 thought they would finish in the top two. This season, no-one thinks they will be champions, and only three out of 20 think they will make the top two.

Mark Lawrenson: A big factor for Liverpool is hunger after what happened last season. Yes, they had a lot of injuries but by their high standards it was a poor campaign – so they have a point to prove, especially in front of their fans at Anfield where they had such a poor run at the start of the year.

Danny Murphy: It is hugely important that Liverpool get Jordan Henderson’s contract situation sorted out. They have already lost Georginio Wijnaldum, who has been under-rated for the past few years. I do expect Henderson to stay, because he has been so pivotal to their success, but they need to put those concerns to bed quickly. Losing both now would be unthinkable.

Danny Murphy joins Ashley Williams and Mark Chapman for MOTD2 this Sunday at 22:30 BST on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of Newcastle v West Ham and Tottenham v Manchester City.

Georginio Wijnaldum left Liverpool in June and signed for Paris St-Germain on a free transfer. “He is seriously under-rated,” says Danny Murphy. “He is brilliant defensively but great on the ball too and he doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is technically.”

Stephen Warnock: They are still a very strong team and I just think the style of football will be back to what it was a couple of years ago, with the team playing that high press again. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah look fresh after a break over the summer but it is a concern what happens when they both go to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Martin Keown: I know people are saying they haven’t really bought but there was nothing really wrong with Liverpool before their injury problems last season. I am backing Klopp to get back the perfection that was there in the two seasons before that, and they can challenge again, no doubt about it.

Pat Nevin: Liverpool still don’t look like they have a big enough squad to win the league, but then I’ve said that about them before. They have got Virgil van Dijk back now, which makes a massive difference, but I kind of think they need another serious striker.

Micah Richards: Diogo Jota did really well last season, and his injury came at a bad time for them. It might take a while for them to work out their best combination in attack, or what system to go with.

Chris Sutton: Ibrahima Konate looks like a decent defensive signing but the issue with Van Dijk is how fit is he? How has he been affected by being out for so long and the injury? We will find out.

Matthew Upson: It is hard to remember Liverpool at full throttle because they had such a disastrous time from the start of the year. Even though they have got Van Dijk fit, I had the same cruciate ligament injury and I’d say you are looking at several months from when he plays his first competitive game to him being back at his best. Joe Gomez is in the same boat really, and that’s the reason I have them down as third.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: I hope Van Dijk gets back to his best because he is such a wonderful player. They need him to perform individually but he also lifts the whole team. I don’t think it will happen for Liverpool without him, because of that knock-on effect. When they are in full swing, they are fantastic to watch.

Leicester – fighting it out with Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham for the top six?

Last season, Arsenal were the only other team to feature in the picks – two out of 25 pundits thought they would finish fourth or higher. This time, Leicester get a mention – but only one pundit thinks they will finish in the Champions League places.

Jermaine Beckford: I am going with Leicester to finish fourth. They are a breath of fresh air in terms of how much they invest in their squad compared to the teams who finished above them last season. They still spend some money of course, but they spend it so well. Their recruitment is absolutely brilliant, and I am a huge fan of the way Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers sets up his teams and gets everyone working hard together.

Ashley Williams: It’s going to be tough for anyone else to crack the top four, and I don’t think Arsenal or Spurs can do it. If anyone can wriggle in there, it is Leicester. They are a really good team and can beat any of the leading teams on their day but as they have already found out after finishing fifth twice, it is tough for them to sustain those standards for the whole season.

Martin Keown: Leicester will push again and they will definitely have a say in who will win the title. Arsenal and Spurs can too, but it still feels more like they are both in transition at the moment. There will be some pressure on Arsenal early on, because they have got some very difficult early fixtures against Chelsea and City in the first couple of weeks. I just want to see some more convincing performances from them, because I think we can see the club has tumbled down the league, and there are other clubs with more resources than them now. They need to be more competitive in games to get up the table, and they also need Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to have a smile back on his face.

Danny Murphy: If anyone might surprise a few people it’s Arsenal – they are not in Europe, and they have got some fantastic forward players. People forget that last season was the first in Aubameyang’s career where he didn’t score a bagful of goals, and nothing suggests to me that is going to continue. They have a tough start but their young players are going to keep getting better.

Pat Nevin: Just purely if you look at the finances and size and experience of squads, it is going to be very hard for anyone outside the top four to get up there again. After the top four, it is Arsenal, Spurs, Leicester, and maybe West Ham who will all basically be trying to be the best of the rest.

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brown82nicole · 3 years ago

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The Premier League signings who will make the biggest difference

The Premier League signings who will make the biggest difference in the fight for the title

The season of the English Premier League has come to an end, and it has been a real roller coaster ride. The first half of the season was dominated by the teams from the top division of the country, and the last few rounds have shown that the gap between the teams has become much smaller.

The first rounds were dominated by Manchester City, and now the Citizens are the only team that can challenge the leaders of the EPL. The previous season, the Citizens were the main contenders for the champion title, but they were overtaken by the Leicester City.

The Citizens have been gradually improving their results, and they managed to win the first two rounds of the current season. However, they still have a long way to go, and if they don’t achieve the desired result, they will be left behind by the leaders.

However, the main favorites of the Premier League are Leicester City and Manchester City. The Citizens have a good squad, and many of their players are able to play in the top divisions. In addition, the team has a good coach, who has been in the job for a long time.

This season, Leicester City has already managed to take advantage of the fact that the team was the main contender for the English title for several years in a row. The team is now trying to get into the top 4, and this is what will decide the fate of the championship.

All the latest news about the English football

The Premier league is the most popular football tournament in the world. This season, it has become even more popular, as the number of participants has increased significantly.

In the current campaign, the English championship has been dominated by two teams: Manchester City and Leicester City, which have already managed a comfortable victory. This is a good result for the Citizens, as they have not been in a good shape for several seasons now.

It is very important for the team to get a good start in the new season, as it will be the first step to the fight against the leaders in the standings.

Manchester City has a long list of potential players, who can help the team get into a higher position. Among them, we can highlight:

* Pablo Sarabia;

* Leroy Sane;

* Sergio Aguero;

In addition, it is worth highlighting the following players:

· Riyad Mahrez;

· Sergio Agüero.

These players can be called the main performers of the Citizens in the current championship, as their contribution to the team’s success is very high.

At the same time, the City has not been the only contender for victory in the English league. The other teams are:

• Newcastle;

•

• Tottenham;

and

• Everton.

Each of these teams has its own advantages, but the Citizens have an excellent squad, which can fight for a place in the Champions League zone.

Who will be able to take the title away from Manchester City?

The current season of EPL has shown that it is very difficult to get the desired results in the long tournament distance. The main contenders are the teams that have not won the title for a few years.

Among the teams who have not yet won the coveted trophy, we should highlight: Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United.

If the Citizens can get into top 4 and will be a real contender for winning the title, then they will have a real chance to win it. The following factors should be considered in order to achieve this goal:

1. Good selection of players.

2. Good teamwork.

3. Individual skills of the leaders, who are able not only to make the right decisions, but also to get in the right positions at the right time.

The current season has shown us that the English season is long and unpredictable, so the team will have to play smart and make the most of every opportunity.

What are the main chances of the rivals for the victory in EPL?

Chelsea and Liverpool are the two main contenders of the title in the EFL Cup, and both of them have a chance to get to the final stage. The Blues have a very good squad that can fight against any team.

Liverpool is also very confident of getting into the Champions league zone, which is why it is so important for them to get good results in EFL.

Arsenal is the only other team that is not in the best shape of late, but it has a very strong lineup that can achieve a good performance.

Of course, the Reds will not be able not to fight for victory, but there is a high probability that they will get into at least the second round of the tournament.

Will Tottenham be able at all to fight against its main rivals?

In recent years, Tottenham has been the main competitor of Chelsea https://777score.com/football/tournaments/europe/uefa-europa-league in the Premier league. However this season, Tottenham is not as strong as it was in the previous season.

Many of the Spurs players are injured, which has an impact on the team. In the current EPL, Tottenham will have an extremely difficult time, as its rivals have a lot of experience and are much stronger.

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tooneyandlessirusso · 1 month ago

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How lucky are we to watch the wsl every week?

Chelsea were pretty unreal last night! I do feel for palace as I don’t think they were necessarily bad in the first time but you’ve got to identify where you’ll get points and obviously last night wasn’t that. Guru reiten was unreal , as was Lucy but one of my faves and a stand out player was definitely Macario! She’s honestly grown so much and she’s still so young! Chelsea really do have such a wonderful,y strong squad which makes it difficult to really be,Keble anyone else can challenge them. Score predictions for tomorrow:

City 3-1 Brighton

Everton 1-2 united

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

Leicester 0-3 arsenal

Villa 2-3 spurs

Hoping for a big win tomorrow for the girls against a team who will also be around us this season 🤞🤞🤞

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soccerdailyuk · 1 year ago

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Chelsea have only three players left from 2021 Champions League winning team

Chelsea have only three players left from 2021 Champions League winning team Only three players who were part of the victorious Chelsea team in the 2021 Champions League are still with the club presently. In the past few years, Chelsea has experienced significant changes in their squad, resulting in the departure of several important players. While the club has been the top spender in the last two transfer windows in the Premier League, they have also orchestrated numerous sales, with as many as seven players leaving since the conclusion of the previous season. Chelsea has generated more than £134 million in revenue through the sale of several players this summer, including Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria, who were on loan at Stamford Bridge last season, have returned to their parent clubs. N'Golo Kante has joined Al-Ittihad, while Cesar Azpilicueta has moved to Atletico Madrid, both on free transfers. There are strong indications that Mason Mount will transfer to Manchester United ahead of the upcoming season. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils have agreed on a deal worth approximately £60 million to secure the services of the talented English playmaker for a five-year contract. If Mount's departure materializes, Thiago Silva, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell will be the only remaining members of the Chelsea team that defeated Manchester City in the Champions League final just two years ago. In that final, former manager Thomas Tuchel selected Mendy, Kante, and Mount as starters, with Havertz scoring the decisive goal to secure a narrow victory for the Blues on the grandest stage of all. The rest of the team members have been sold in previous transfer windows. Last summer, Antonio Rudiger joined Real Madrid, while Timo Werner returned to RB Leipzig on a permanent basis. Jorginho, who also played in midfield against City, moved to Arsenal in January to provide extra support in the midfield for the Gunners. It appears that Todd Boehly is determined to bring about a new era at Chelsea. Since taking over from former owner Roman Abramovich last year, his aggressive recruitment strategy has completely changed the atmosphere in the team's dressing room. Additionally, the team from west London is expected to sign several more players this summer. This comes after the early signings of Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira, and Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea's transfer policy of spending freely has not impressed everyone, including Gary Neville, who has criticized the club for signing expensive new players to lengthy eight-year contracts. This strategy is commonly seen as an attempt to spread out the costs over time, enabling the club to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations despite their high spending. "I don't see how it brings any benefit to the club apart from the FFP and the accounting mechanism, the accounting benefit," Neville told Sky Sports. "For me, I'm struggling with it, that the wheel can be reinvented and they've found something really clever here that someone else hasn't spotted. "They could look like the smartest people in the room in two years, or they could look pretty stupid. I don't know which it will be but it will be one or the other, it won't be in the middle. It will be either: What the hell was that? Or they've changed the model in English football and well done to them. We will have to see how this plays out." Chelsea have only three players left from 2021 Champions League winning team Read the full article

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junker-town · 5 years ago

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Tactically Naive: So long Niko Kovac, you were fine and that just won’t do

Tactically Naive is back after a two month hiatus! This week: Good bye Niko Kovac, what’s left of the EPL season, and how to appreciate a goal from the halfway line.

Hello, and welcome to SB Nation’s soccer column, Tactically Naive. We’re back after a two-month hiatus. *trumpets, ticker-tape, fireworks* Hope you’ve all been well.

Godspeed, Niko Kovac. And thank you.

Kovac’s time in the FC Bayern Munich dugout, which ended this weekend after a 5-1 loss to his former club Eintracht Frankfurt, has always been something of a comfort to Tactically Naive. It wasn’t inspirational, as most sport stories have to be. Nor was it a disaster. It was just: acceptably fine.

And we all need a bit of acceptably fine in our lives. Take the classic Disney sports movie formula, but then invert it halfway through: the (kind of) unexpected (sort of) underdog gets the shot at the big time, and then — Surprise! Ah hah! Oooh! — nothing spectacular happens.

Kovac got the job basically by accident, after Bayern spent so long trying to persuade Jupp Heynckes to stay that every other option found something better to do. Then he kept the job for a season and change not because his team were particularly good, but because they were never consistently bad enough not to win the title.

A very good squad continued to get pretty decent results, with the occasional slip-up. Nobody got too attached or invested. Time passed. Nobody learned anything particularly profound or grew in any significant way. There were fun bits and not-so-fun bits. Nobody did anything too silly. Then things wound down at about the right moment. We’re all a little older.

You can see why FC Hollywood might not be into that sort of thing. This isn’t FC Mumblecore. The point of Bayern Munich is to strut around the Bundesliga and the Champions League hitting peasants around the head with an ivory-handled walking cane, and it’s hard to strut when your manager looks just happy to be there. Bayern need re-energising and re-organising, but they also need re-arrogantising, and no, they don’t have to care that “re-arrogantising” isn’t a word.

So Kovac had to go. For a start, he’d never use the word “re-arrogantising”; for an end, he’d certainly never be part of it. But Tactically Naive salutes him for his radically naturalistic interpretation of the role of Big Club Manager. Hopefully the Oscars take heed.

The Premier League is over! Almost.

It was a strange weekend in the Premier League. A lot of the individual results were quite interesting, but the picture at the top of the table is congealing fast.

Liverpool’s late winner at Aston Villa kept the gap to Manchester City at six points, and more importantly kept the THIS IS IT, WE’VE GOT THIS, FINALLY, HERE WE GO, IT IS INEVITABLE, BIG JURGEN COMING THROUGH, THIS YEAR IS OUR YEAR feeling humming along at 1 million percent. Perhaps the long process of summoning a title challenge into being through sheer desperation is finally approaching a close.

Meanwhile wins for Leicester and Chelsea, and a draw for Arsenal, extended the gap between fourth and fifth out to another six points. That gap looks even bigger than the one at the top, because Arsenal are bad and every team below Arsenal is worse.

There is, of course, still room for chaos. Manchester City go to Anfield next Sunday in what experts are calling an “all-the-pointser.” If City win, Liverpool go into their chaotically busy winter with the hot breath of the champions on their neck. It’ll follow them to Qatar, to the Club World Championship. It’ll follow them back again. It’ll follow them everywhere. (A Liverpool win and the season world is over, obviously.)

Equally, Leicester’s and Chelsea’s smooth starts could stutter, or Arsenal could fire Unai Emery into the sun and appoint Brendan Rodgers or Frank Lampard, or Manchester United could [message lost]. All sorts of things could happen. You could fall off the chair that you’re sitting on right now …

… careful.

But that top four feels right, on the basis of what has happened and what seems likely to happen. Particularly if the other notional big teams start making changes or rebuilding towards next season. Ditching Emery might send Arsenal rocketing back up the table, but more likely it would mean half a season of working things out for next time around. Of trying to persuade Aubameyang and Lacazette to stay. And maybe a tilt at the Europa League if they haven’t accidentally fallen out of it by then.

Look, we’re not going to say definitively that the Premier League needs a City win next week. But on the off chance Liverpool do take all three points, then Tactically Naive will be getting right into the relegation battle. Time to start cooking up some Watford takes, just in case.

Two goals from the halfway line? Two?!

Let us consider the goal from the halfway line. Of all the various forms of Great Goal, it is perhaps the easiest to dismiss. Flowing team moves, thumping drives, flying volleys, mazy dribbles … all have something unstoppable about them. But the goal from halfway always has a strong air of goalkeeping negligence; a sense of a door left unlocked.

Oh no, whatever could we have done?

You could have stood 10 yards to your left, mate.

But perhaps this is unfair. Perhaps much of the unstoppability is hidden from view. The reason they don’t happen all the time is twofold: one, it’s quite hard to actually kick the ball into the goal from that distance, and two, there’s rarely a good moment. Keepers are usually standing where they’re supposed to stand, or close enough. Who even checks?

The genius, then, lies not just in the execution but in the realisation that there is, in this moment, something to be executed. It’s not a door that’s being left open but a tiny window, way up high, that nobody even really knew was there. Just a crack. But just enough.

At least, that’s what Tactically Naive thought before we saw the video below, in which Montedio Yamagata’s Shun Nakamura and Tatushiro Sakamoto score two such goals in 90 seconds. Now we’re back to blaming the keepers. What the hell.

youtube

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gadgetsrevv · 5 years ago

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Transfer news LIVE: Barcelona deal, Real Madrid medical passed, Rangers announce Kent | Football | Sport

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip

Tuesday, September 2

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas joins PSG on four-year deal

Alphonse Areola heads the other way on a season-long loan

Barcelona midfielder Rafinha has joined Celta Vigo on loan

Rangers complete signing of Ryan Kent from Liverpool

Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has joined Qarabag

Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has joined Roma on loan

PSG have completed the signing of Inter Milan star Mauro Icardi

Bruno Fernandes remains a Sporting Lisbon player after a long summer of speculation

Man Utd should have signed Mario Mandzukic

Manchester United should have signed Mario Mandzukic, according to ESPN pundit Mark Ogden.

“Anthony Martial missed the game at Southampton at the weekend, so they have two fit strikers,” Ogden said.

“Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, who’s 17. So that is the problem. They could have signed Mario Mandzukic at the end of the window.

“A deal was agreed with Juventus, it would have cost I think around £14million.

“That for me would have been a no-brainer because yes he’s not the future but he’s a guy that ticks that box of being an experienced pro that the players can turn to and he can be a plan B in the last 20 minutes of a game if you need to score a goal to get back into it. Mandzukic has been around the block.

“They haven’t got any of those players. I understand Solskjaer’s decision to try and change the makeup of the squad and make it a younger squad and more hungry squad.

“But they really need some experience in there and I think there’s going to be some difficult days ahead.”

Transfer news LIVE: Mario Mandzukic didn’t join Man Utd (Image: GETTY)

Alexis Sanchez fires back at Manchester United

Alexis Sanchez believes he wasn’t given an opportunity to impress at Manchester United after leaving for Inter Milan.

“I think that I’m happy when I play for my national team,” he told BBC Sport.

“I was happy at Manchester United too, but I’ve always said to my friends: I want to play.

“If they would let me play I’ll do my best. Sometimes I’d play 60 minutes then I wouldn’t play the next game – and I didn’t know why.”

Transfer news LIVE: Alexis Sanchez left Man Utd for Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)

Ryan Kent on rejoining Rangers

Ryan Kent is delighted to be back at Rangers after completing a permanent move from Liverpool.

He explained: “I am delighted to be back here, it has been a quite a long summer, a lot of things could have potentially happened but I am delighted to be here.

“I never lost hope, there were probably moments when I thought it might not happen but I guess good things come to those who wait.

“I won’t lie it has been incredibly tough over the summer but I am a mentally strong person as it is anyway.

“I knew if I kept myself correct something good would happen soon and I have been ticking over, keeping myself to myself and this has happened now and I’m over the moon.

“I got a feel for what it was to be a Rangers player, I felt like there was unfinished business from last year and I am hoping to put that right.”

Alexis Sanchez backed to succeed over Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Alexis Sanchez is more likely to succeed in Italy than Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to Liverpool icon Steve Nicol.

Both Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan left the Premier League for Serie A in the past month.

“For Mkhitaryan, I think he’s gone hiding. I think he’s gone,” he said on ESPN FC.

“I don’t believe Sanchez is hiding, I just think he’s not doing well, he’s struggling, he’s lost half a yard.

“As for Mkhitaryan, I am sorry, but I’ve never been so disappointed with a player who, at Dortmund, was incredible, but he’s collapsed since he moved to the Premier League.”

Alexis Sanchez left Man Utd for Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)

Jadon Sancho to Man Utd next summer?

Jadon Sancho has opened up on the prospect of a future move to the Premier League.

The Borussia Dortmund winger, who has been a transfer target for Man Utd, admitted: “I can’t tell what the future will bring but I wouldn’t mind [returning to the Premier league].

“La Liga I wouldn’t mind also, but we don’t know yet.”

Ryan Kent is back at Rangers

Rangers have confirmed the signing of Liverpool youngster Ryan Kent.

Ryan Kent has agreed a four-year contract with Rangers and became a permanent Gers player tonight.

A deal in the region of £7million was announced just minutes after the Scottish transfer window closed, with Kent having agreed personal terms and passed a medical earlier on Monday.

TOP TEN TRANSFERS

With the transfer window shut, here’s a look at the top ten most expensive transfers of the summer transfer window.

La Liga sides lead the way with the top three signings, and four out of the top ten.

1) Joao Felix – Benfica to Atletico Madrid – $136.3m [£112.9m]

2) Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid to Barcelona – $129.8m [£107.6m]

3) Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Real Madrid – $106.8m [£88.5m]

4) Harry Maguire – Leicester to Manchester United – $96.5m [£79.96m]

5) Nicolas Pepe – Lille to Arsenal – $86.8m [£71.9m]

6) Romeu Lukaku – Manchester United to Inter Milan – $84.4m [69.9m]

7) Lucas Hernandez – Atletico Madrid to Bayern Munich – $82m [£67.9m]

8) Matthijs de Ligt – Ajax to Juventus – $81.8m [£67.7m]

9) Frankie de Jong – Ajax to Barcelona – $78.8m [£65.3m]

10) Rodrigo – Atletico Madrid to Manchester City – $75.5m [£62.5m]

23:00 UPDATE: TRANSFER WINDOW CLOSED

Clubs in Europe can no longer sign any players, as the deadline has passed.

Bruno Fernandes will subsequently remain at Sporting CP for the rest of the year at least, after his move to Real Madrid failed to materialise.

PSG have had a strong deadline day, bringing in Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi and Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, whilst keeping wantaway megastar Neymar.

Premier League clubs have still been active, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan leaving Arsenal and Chelsea winger Kenedy heading to Getafe on loan.

22:40 UPDATE: Neymar exit would have been terrible

Several PSG stars would have left the club if Neymar was sold this summer, according to legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“I think that he is one of the best players in the world and I am happy that he is staying at PSG,” said Wenger. “Because when you lose one of your two or three best players in the world, the law in our world is that the following year you lose the other.

“It is very difficult to have players who make a difference, even when you have a lot of money. When you have them, you must keep them.

“When you want to keep a player, it is better to convince him how important you are to him, rather than to give him zero chance to leave.”

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

22:25 UPDATE: Done Deal – Icardi signs

PSG have completed the signing of Inter Milan star Mauro Icardi.

The Argentine international will join on a season-long loan having been frozen out by San Siro boss Antonio Conte.

PSG will have the option to make the deal permanent for £59million. Reports add that Icardi will earn £140k per week plus £1.8m in bonuses.

Icardi: “I am going to give my heart and soul to help my new team go as far as possible in all the competitions. PSG has become a stronghold in world football… I thank PSG for their confidence in me.”

22:10 UPDATE: Quick round-up

Leicester winger Rachid Ghezzal joins Fiorentina on loan with option to buy.

Galatasaray sign 33-year-old striker Radamel Falcao on a 3-year contract from Monaco.

Manchester City have announced that Aleix Garcia has joined Royal Excel Mouscron until June 2020.

Lucas Piazon has joined Rio Ave on a two-year loan after singing a one-year contract extension with Chelsea.

Everton winger Yannick Bolasie is on the verge of joining Sporting Lisbon (Image: GETTY)

21:50 UPDATE: Yannick off?

Everton winger Yannick Bolasie is on the verge of joining Sporting Lisbon.

That’s according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, who claim the 30-year-old will join for the remainder of the season.

Bolasie, who cost Everton £25million in 2016, is surplus to requirements at Goodison Park and spent last season with Anderlecht.

21:40 UPDATE: Neymar whereabouts

There will be no last-gasp deal for Neymar.

As reported a few days ago, the PSG superstar will remain at the Parc des Princes for the 2019/2020 campaign – despite Barcelona and Real Madrid’s pursuits.

The 27-year-old has flown to Miami for Brazil’s friendly with Colombia at the weekend.

21:30 UPDATE: Pedri deal?

It’s been claimed that Barcelona have agreed a fee for Las Palmas youngster Pedri.

Chelsea were thought to be leading the race to sign the 16-year-old teenager – but Marca say the Spanish champions have won the race.

Marca claim Barcelona will pay £4.5million for the midfielder, who has started all three fixtures for Las Palmas this season.

Quick round-up

Italian top-flight side Udinese sign Watford striker Stefano Okaka on a season-long loan.

Fleetwood have signed Burnley defender Jimmy Dunne on loan for the remainder of the season.

Hull striker Nouha Dicko has joined Eredivisie club Vitesse on a season-long loan deal.

Steven Defour has completed his move to Royal Antwerp from Burnley.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

21:15 UPDATE: Ryan Kent agreement

Rangers have agreed a £7m deal with Liverpool to sign Ryan Kent on a four-year deal.

The 22-year-old was on loan at Ibrox last season, and Steven Gerrard has decided to splash the cash in order to bring him back permanently.

The Gers were initially leaning toward another loan deal for Kent, but Liverpool weren’t willing to sanction another temporary move for the youngster.

If the deal is confirmed before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline, Kent will likely be given the number 14 shirt at Rangers.

21:00 UPDATE: Quick round-up

Roma have signed Nikola Kalinic on loan from Atletico Madrid – the deal can be made permanent for £8million.

Kilmarnock left-back Greg Taylor has joined Celtic on a four-year deal.

Valencia have confirmed the signing of Thierry Correia from Sporting Lisbon for £10m.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

20:50 UPDATE: Kenedy off

Chelsea winger Kenedy has joined Getafe on a season-long loan.

The Brazilian had spells with Watford and Newcastle but will make his first move overseas.

Kenedy has made 27 appearances for the Blues and was an unused sub in the first two games of this season.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

20:40 UPDATE: Bobby Duncan to Fiorentina

Fiorentina have signed Liverpool teenager Bobby Duncan.

Duncan, who is the cousin of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, arrives for £1.8million with a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

Duncan, 18, joined Liverpool from Manchester City in 2018.

20:30 UPDATE: Quick round-up

Juventus have snapped up North Korean striker Han Kwang Song from Cagliari

Celtic and Kilmarnock have agreed a fee for the transfer of left-back Greg Taylor to the Scottish Champions

Andre Silva has joined Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt with Ante Rebic going the other way on a two-year loan deal

Tottenham have sold England Under 20 international Marcus Edwards to Portuguese side Vitoria.

20:15 UPDATE: Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

Manchester United defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has joined Tranmere on loan.

The 22-year-old talent will remain with the League Two for the remainder of the season before returning to Old Trafford.

Borthwick-Jackson, who has made 14 appearances for United’s senior side, spent last season on loan in League One with Scunthorpe.

His last appearance for the Red Devils came in May 2016 against Bournemouth during a 3-1 win.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

20:00 UPDATE: Lewa slammed

Robert Lewandowski should not worry about Bayern Munich’s transfer business and certainly shouldn’t have aired his grievances publicly.

That’s the strong message from Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who was clearly irritated with Lewandowski’s plea for more senior players rather than youth prospects.

“He does not have to worry about my job or the job of (CEO) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge or (president) Uli Hoeness – and certainly not in public. He does not have to – I think he understood that”, Salihamidzic told Kicker.

“If we do not do that (invest in young players), it will be difficult for Bayern, we can not spend hundreds of millions every summer.”

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

19:30 UPDATE: One step closer…

Rangers and Liverpool have agreed a fee for Ryan Kent.

Sky Sports claim Steven Gerrard’s side will pay £7million for the 22-year-old winger.

Kent will now discuss personal terms and undergo a medical to secure his long-awaited return to Ibrox.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

19:00 UPDATE: Quick round-up

Arsenal’s Nigerian international Kelechi Nwakali has joined Spanish Segunda Division side, SD Huesca in a permanent deal.

Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt has joined Belgian side Antwerp for the remainder of the season.

Leicester winger Rachid Ghezzal is in Italy undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed move to Fiorentina.

Jese set to leave PSG on loan for Sporting Portugal with an option to buy.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

18:55 UPDATE: No sign of Bruno…

There has been no change in Real Madrid’s pursuit of Bruno Fernandes with around four hours until the La Liga deadline.

The Daily Mail had claimed that the Portuguese international would join for around £63million today – but he remains a Sporting Lisbon player.

The Spanish deadline closes at 11pm tonight.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

18:45 UPDATE: Henrikh Mkhitaryan exit

Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has joined Roma on loan.

The Armenia international, who joined the Gunners as part of a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez, arrives at the Serie A side on a season-long loan.

Mkhitaryan has made 59 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals.

“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Micki all the best for his season with Roma,” Arsenal said on their website.

18:30 UPDATE: Quick round-up

Frankfurt star Ante Rebic has joined AC Milan on a two-year loan. The Serie A side have the option to make the deal permanent.

Shakhtar have completed the signing of Yevhen Konoplyanka from Schalke. He’s signed a three-year deal.

Roma have confirmed the signing of Nikola Kalinic from Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina has joined Galatasaray on a one-year loan

Transfer News: Frankfurt star Ante Rebic has joined AC Milan on a two-year loan (Image: GETTY)

18:15 UPDATE: Chicharito signs

Javier Hernandez has joined Sevilla.

The Mexico international has been officially unveiled by the Spanish side, who paid West Ham £7million for his services.

He’s signed a three-year contract at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

He tweeted a farewell message to West Ham fans earlier today, it read: “Thank you West Ham for granting me the opportunity to be my home during these past two years. I leave with the best memories and I wanted to express my total gratefulness to the club, managers, teammates and the fans.”

Transfer News: Javier Hernandez has joined Sevilla (Image: GETTY)

18:00 UPDATE: Done Deal: Schick signs

RB Leipzig have signed Patrik Schick.

The Roma forward joins the Bundesliga side on a season-long loan with the option to make the deal permanent for £26million should they qualify for the Champions League.

Leipzig will pay a £3million loan fee plus an additional £455k in performance-related add-ons.

17:45 UPDATE: Done deal – Begovic signs

Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has joined Azerbaijan Premier League leaders Qarabag on loan.

The 32-year-old completed his move ahead of the closing of the European transfer deadline and will remain with Qarabag until January.

Begovic has not featured this season with Aaron Ramsdale playing all four games in the top flight and Mark Travers starting the Carabao Cup second-round clash against Forest Green Rovers.

17:30 UPDATE: PSG’s Neymar demands

PSG wanted a whopping £273million for Neymar.

That’s according to French newspaper La Parisien, who claim Barcelona simply couldn’t match their demands.

It’s also claimed that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told PSG’s players that Neymar wouldn’t be sold this summer unless an enormous offer was submitted.

The report says Al-Khelaifi was confident that the Catalan giants wouldn’t be able to cough up £273m for the Brazilian international.

Transfer News: PSG wanted a whopping £273million for Neymar (Image: GETTY)

17:15 UPDATE: Done Deal – Navas joins PSG

And as expected, Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has joined PSG for £12million.

The Costa Rica international was announced moments after Alphonse Areola joined Zinedine Zidane’s side on a season-long loan.

Navas, 32, has signed a four-year deal and is expected to slot straight into Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI with Sergio Rico and Marcin Bulka behind him.

“The club wants to show his gratitude and love for his behaviour and his delivery in the five seasons he has defended the Real Madrid shirt,” Real Madrid said in a statement.

“Keylor Navas has been part of one of the most important stages of our history, in which he has won 12 titles, including three European Cups. Real Madrid wishes you the best in your new career.”

17:00 UPDATE: Done Deal: Alphonse Areola signs

Real Madrid have completed the signing of PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

The 26-year-old French international joins on a season-long loan without the option to make the deal permanent.

PSG tweeted: “Alphonse Areola joins Real Madrid until 30th June 2020. The 26-year-old shot-stopper, capped three times for France, is under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2023. The loan deal with Real Madrid does not include a purchase option.”

The announcement is expected to trigger the arrival of Keylor Navas to PSG.

16:45 UPDATE: Mauro Icardi to PSG

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is close to joining PSG.

New boss Antonio Conte has made it clear that Icardi, 26, has no future at the San Siro – despite a phenomenal 124 goals in 219 appearances.

Now, the Argentine will join Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani in Paris.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano claims Icardi has arrived in the French capital and is currently undergoing a medial.

It’s said Icardi will extend his contract with Inter before joining PSG on a season-long loan with the option to buy for £63million.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

16:30 UPDATE: No Vertonghen deal

Jan Vertonghen is no closer to resolving his contract situation at Tottenham.

The Belgian international made his first appearance of the season during Tottenham’s north London derby draw with Arsenal having been frozen out by Mauricio Pochettino.

But with only one year remaining on his existing deal at Tottenham – Vertonghen says nothing has changed.

“No. I just want to focus on football now,” the Spurs defender said when asked if a new contract was in the pipeline. “I’ve been so long with the guys, I love the club and I just want to play as much as I can.”

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

16:15 UPDATE: One in, one out

Keylor Navas is close to joining PSG.

The Costa Rica international hasn’t played a minute of competitive football under Zinedine Zidane this season and looks set to leave the Bernabeu.

Sky Sports claim the goalkeeper will join PSG before the European transfer window closes today with French stopper Alphonse Areola heading the other way.

According to El Chringuito, Areola has already passed his Real Madrid medical and will play second-fiddle to Thibaut Courtois.

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)

16:00 UPDATE: Barcelona agreement

Barcelona midfielder Rafinha has joined Celta Vigo.

The Brazilian star joins the La Liga outfit on a season-long loan deal having penned a one-year extension with Barcelona.

The 26-year-old’s contract was set to expire in June 2020 – meaning Rafinha would have been eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of Spain.

Marca claim manager Ernesto Valverde accepts that he’s well stocked in midfield and the meteoric rise of 16-year-old talent Ansu Fati provide pivotal in the decision.

Pues una de las bombas que decía Zidane se va a anunciar mañana. Casi cerrado Bruno Fernandes. Llevaban razón en Florencia. @SportsCenter_nt

— Manu Martín ESPN (@manumartin23) September 1, 2019

15:45 UPDATE: Ryan Kent to Rangers

Rangers look increasingly likely to sign Liverpool winger Ryan Kent.

The 22-year-old attacker enjoyed a profitable loan spell with Steven Gerrard’s side last season – scoring six goals and providing nine assists in 43 appearances.

The BBC claim Liverpool and Rangers are currently holding talks and the Scottish Premiership side could secure his signature for £7million.

Kent has only made one competitive appearance for Liverpool – and that came in in January 2016.

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anisanews · 4 years ago

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The power of the people – How Liverpool players and fans forced Henry into Super League U-turn

Thirty-three words, but so much significance. And, to put it bluntly, the kind of strong, forthright leadership that Liverpool’s owners can only dream of right now.

It started a little after 9pm on Tuesday night. One post, then another, then another. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane.

All of them.

Each post was the same, its blood red background accentuating the words which carried such weight, such importance.

“We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen,” they read. “This is our collective position. Our commitment to this football club and its supporters is absolute and unconditional.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

A few hours later, their club finally spoke. Shortly before 11pm, a statement landed on Liverpool’s official website, confirming that they had “discontinued” their involvement in proposed plans to form a European Super League (ESL).

At the same time, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham followed suit. Manchester City had withdrawn earlier in the day, after Chelsea had confirmed they were preparing to exit.

And with that, the most controversial idea in European football’s recent history was squashed, dead in the water.

Well, for now at least, anyway.

It brings to an end a frenzied 48 hours of talks and briefings, of statements and suggestions, protests and concern. We’ll remember April 2021 alright; a time when football was at war, when the ‘Dirty Dozen’ threatened to tip the domestic, European and international game upside down.

But we’ll also remember the heroes of the piece, those who acted with integrity and courage, who spoke up when it would have been easy to sit in silence and who helped force these clubs, these behemoths, into this most public, most embarrassing of climbdowns.

What is it they say; the power of the people is greater than the people in power?

We have witnessed the power of football’s people this week alright. Its players and its supporters have stood tall. At Liverpool, the backlash was both impressive and immediate.

The club announced its intention to join the Super League just before midnight on Sunday, and within hours its supporters had begun to mobilise. Spion Kop 1906, a prominent Reds fan group, announced they would be removing their iconic flags and banners from inside Anfield.

“We feel we can no longer give our support to a club which puts financial greed above the integrity of the game,” they posted.

Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool supporters’ union, said they were “appalled” by their club’s involvement, labelling the plans “embarrassing”, “shocking” and “shameless”. At Anfield, some fans hung banners on the gates of the Kop, protesting against the proposed Super League.

On Monday afternoon, Liverpool’s players left their hotel in Leeds city centre and headed out for a short walk, part of their pre-match routine for all away games.

During it, they were confronted by a handful of supporters, who hurled insults. They were called “greedy b*stards” and told to “f*ck off to the Super League”.

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This continued when the squad arrived at Elland Road for that evening’s Premier League clash, the team coach greeted by a group of more than 100 fans, some of whom unfurled a banner which read ‘RIP Liverpool – Thanks for the memories’.

In the dressing room, staff found T-shirts bearing the slogan ‘Football is for the fans’ on the back and ‘Earn it’ on the front, together with the UEFA Champions League logo. Leeds’ players wore them while warming up, while outside the ground a saxophonist played the Abba song ‘Money, Money, Money’ on loop as the game got underway.

Afterwards came the first signs that Klopp and his players were prepared to push back against the club’s plans. Klopp told Sky Sports his opinion on a Super League, first stated back in 2019, had not changed, that he was against the idea and that he had not been consulted prior to the story emerging the previous day.

In his post-match press conference, he sought to protect his players, whom he felt had been unfairly targeted, and insisted he would not resign as manager despite his reservations. FSG, he said, were “serious people, reasonable people, who care”, though he did say, pointedly, that “there will be a moment for sure when our owners say what they have to say”.

Then came the players. Milner, unsurprisingly, was the one selected for post-match media duties at Elland Road. “The only one who could be trusted to speak properly,” said one source, and he most certainly did.

“I don’t like it and I don’t want it to happen,” the 35-year-old said, a precursor to the social media posts which would follow on Tuesday.

Tuesday was a day of recovery at Liverpool, but the mood at the club’s Kirkby training ground was tense, and not just because of the points dropped in Yorkshire the previous evening.

The senior players, led by Henderson and Milner, but also Gini Wijnaldum and the influential Van Dijk, spoke regularly throughout the day.

Henderson also contacted the captains of the 19 other Premier League clubs, including those at Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, to organise a Zoom call for Wednesday, in which players could discuss their feelings on the matter and, more pertinently, formulate their response.

Henderson has taken on that role before. It was he, along with others such as Mark Noble of West Ham, Watford’s Troy Deeney and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, who took the lead in organising the #PlayersTogether charitable fund last April, which ensured vital funds were distributed to NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Henderson’s role in that initiative, one source says, was “immense” and certainly won’t be forgotten. “He was brilliant,” said Wolves skipper Conor Coady.

The same goes for his work here. Liverpool’s players were pretty much unanimous in their opposition to the Super League, and it was their captain, who is currently recovering from a groin operation, who led the way with the co-ordinated statements on Tuesday – although the wording certainly felt like a nod to Milner’s comments the previous night.

And sure enough, the house of cards soon came falling down.

Football clubs, and football club owners, may be hard-nosed, but they know when a battle is beyond them. And when you have the fans against you and the players against you, you’re fighting a losing one.

Manchester City went first, then Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool late in the day. The rest of the Super League followers have now started to give in. They all will, eventually. They have no other choice.

John W. Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, finally apologised on Wednesday morning. “I’ve let you down,” he said, in a two-and-a-half minute video message from Boston. It was the first time the club’s ownership had spoken out.

In fact, we had heard more from Joel Glazer than Henry on the Reds’ official website up to that point. Work that one out.

We know what the players and the supporters think. They told us, loud and clear.

So here’s to you, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Jurgen Klopp, Spirit of Shankly, Spion Kop 1906.

Here’s to you Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Everton Football Club, Fulham Football Club, Robbie Fowler, Ander Herrera, Marcus Rashford, Patrick Bamford, Pep Guardiola, Joao Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw and all those who spoke out against this.

Without them, the Super League 12 may very well have gotten away with it. It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?

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kim750tony · 3 years ago

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Antonio Conte apologized for poor match

Antonio Conte apologized for poor match performance, but it was not enough for Juventus to win the Champions League.

The Italian coach has a lot of work to do, but the team has a chance to win again.

Juventus has a good chance to repeat the success of the previous season, and it is not a surprise that the team is in the final.

However, the team will have to fight for the title against Real Madrid.

It is not easy to win a title in the Champions league, but Juventus is a good team and it can be a real contender for the trophy.

This season, the Italian team has already won the Europa League, and the team can be considered as the favorite for the Champions trophy. The team has the best players and the best coach.

In the last season, Juventus won the Champions title for the second time. It is not surprising that the Italian club is in a good position to win it again. The main reason for this is the excellent performance of the team.

Real Madrid has a strong lineup, and this is why it is difficult to beat them.

If the team wins the Champions, it will be a great achievement for the team, and if it loses, it can not be considered a failure.

The main problem for the Spanish team is the lack of a good goalkeeper.

Guardiola has a very good goalkeeper, but he is not the best in the world.

Moreover, the Spanish club has a number of other problems.

One of them is the fact that the Spanish players are not as good as the ones of the Italian and German teams.

Another problem is the transfer of players.

There are many players who are not good enough, and they have to be replaced.

But it is very difficult to replace a good player, and there is no one who can replace the Spanish goalkeeper.

However the team managed to win several trophies in the last years.

Despite the fact, the main problem of the Spanish squad is the goalkeeper. It’s true that the club has many good players, but they are not enough to win trophies.

As a result, the club is not able to compete with the leaders of the world, and that is why the team cannot win the title.

At the same time, the coach has many problems, too.

He has a bad attitude, and he is always in a hurry.

Many players leave the team because of his bad attitude.

Therefore, the fans are waiting for the new coach of the club.

Now, the new season is in full swing.

Everything will be clear for the fans, and we can expect a lot from the club, too, because the new manager is a real expert.

After the new year, the season will be over and the fans can expect the best results.

All the best from the fans of the Real Madrid, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

You can also follow us here.

We will keep you updated on the latest news, and you can always find us on the web.

Thanks for visiting our website, and remember to follow the news on our website.

The new season of the Champions is here, and all the fans will be waiting for it.

Here, we will provide you with the latest information about the events of the season, as well as the results of the matches.

Of course, the Champions are not the only club that can win the trophy, but this is a fact that we can not ignore.

For this reason, we have prepared a list of the most azscore.com important clubs that can be in the finals of the European Cup.

Among them, we can mention:

1. Manchester United

2. Liverpool

3. Bayern Munich

4. Juventus

5. Real Madrid

6. Barcelona

7. Chelsea

8. Manchester City

9. Arsenal

10. Tottenham

11. Southampton

12. Manchester united

13. Manchester city

14. Manchester derby

15. Manchester clubs

16. Manchester teams

17. Manchester club

18. Manchester giants

19. Manchester team

20. Manchester fans

21. Manchester football

22. Manchester soccer

23. Manchester cup

24. Manchester league

25. Manchester champions

26. Manchester national team

27. Manchester underdogs

28. Manchester rivals

29. Manchester lads

30. Manchester manchester

31. Manchester lions

32. Manchester greats

33. Manchester legends

34. Manchester heroes

35. Manchester men

36. Manchester women

37. Manchester girls

38. Manchester fc

39. Manchester gc

40. Manchester hooligans

41. Manchester mens

42. Manchester womens

43. Manchester boys

44. Manchester uk

45. Manchester youth

46. Manchester academy

47. Manchester grand

48. Manchester stars

49. Manchester nhl

50. Manchester sports

51. Manchester champs

52. Manchester super

53. Manchester world

54. Manchester new

55. Manchester top

56. Manchester elite

57. Manchester leaders

58. Manchester rangers

59. Manchester tigers

60. Manchester reds

61. Manchester blues

62. Manchester pompeys

63. Manchester falcons

64. Manchester warriors

65.

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junker-town · 5 years ago

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A rift in the space-time continuum informed us City wins the Premier League again

Bad news, City wins the Premier League again.

We don’t know quite how it happened. As is traditional, there was a storm. Then lightning struck somewhere nearby. A power surge. A moment of darkness. And then, as the lights blinked back on and we all confirmed we were still alive, it appeared on our computer screens: “Premier League 2019-20 in review.”

The Race for the Title

Ultimately, a bit anticlimactic. A 5-0 thrashing of Spurs in August, victory at Anfield in November, title race settled. Manchester City’s 104 points is a Premier League record, but their season will probably be best remembered for the stunning stoppage time defeat to Leicester that kept them from finishing the season as invincibles. And of course, Shoegate.

The race to finish second was a bit more interesting. If you had asked a Tottenham supporter five years ago if they would take a season in which they finished second-place in every competition, they’d have said yes, but reality stings worse than anyone could have imagined. The League Cup defeat to Manchester United hardly registered as a disappointment, and City were always going to run away with the Premiership; keeping Liverpool at bay is basically a trophy, right?

That FA Cup collapse against United, though. Their capitulation in the Champions League final against PSG. Those games were the stuff that nightmares are made of. Hug a Tottenham fan today.

As for Liverpool, well: last season they finished second by one point; this season they finished third by eight. Last season they won the Champions League; this season they were knocked out in the semi-finals. You could call it failure if you wanted to. But in truth, the standards at the top of professional football are so ludicrous that, frankly, all “failure” really means here is “didn’t quite nail perfection, again.” Although losing to Manchester United in such carnivalesque fashion will presumably sting a little. Who knew Harry Maguire could do that? Well, Spurs did.

The Race for Europe

As with last season, the scrap for the remaining Champions League places was the really thrilling adventure, and we have just two words here: Brendan Rodgers. Brendan Rodgers. No man has ever so entirely got back on his bullshit. Forty goals for Jamie Vardy. At least one team talk delivered entirely nude. Twenty for Ayoze Perez. That photo shoot. That other photo shoot. Youri Tielemans, player of the season. Stealing Pep Guardiola’s shoes. Wearing Pep Guardiola’s shoes. A week in prison. A prison escape. And all the rest.

Leicester’s glory was Chelsea’s loss, though it was interesting to see how the fans coped with having a manager they couldn’t really boo. The more creative among them upgraded their A4 protest signs to A3, and even occasionally A2, the better to allow space for the various caveats their outrage required. On the pitch, meanwhile, things went roughly as might be expected: some of the kids were okay, Christian Pulisic looked excellent until his unfortunate injury, and Lampard’s getting another season regardless.

Everton hasn’t finished above Liverpool for a long time, but this season they did at least manage to outscore their dominant neighbours. The front three of Kean, Richarlison and Iwobi looked even better on the pitch than it did on paper, and Everton spent all season terrorising even the finest defences. And who knows, if they could find a half-decent one of their own, they might end up back in the argument proper.

We’re less optimistic about Arsenal, who were slick, pretty, occasionally thrilling, and had a spine made of candy floss and dreams and wishes. A cynic might suspect that we wrote this review of Arsenal’s season before they’d even kicked off, but we’d be safe, because how could you ever prove it?

The Race for the Middle of the Table

Set up for success by a stunningly competent summer, the Hammers finished a respectable eighth, their best finish in four years. Sebastian Haller and Pablo Fornals turned in outstanding campaigns, but the real story was Jack Wilshere, who defied the odds to start in all 38 matches.

This also marks the first time in Premier League history that West Ham have finished above Manchester United, though the Old Trafford faithful don’t seem too concerned. ”WE LOVE YOU SLABHEAD, WE DO,” echoed around the league all season, as the fans paid tribute to their captain Harry Maguire: rock in defense, set piece scoring maestro, and star of the League and FA Cup finals. His signing was a revelation, a true bargain at £80 million. This league finish is a mere bump in the road for the Red Devils; with Maguire and new manager Michael Carrick leading the side, United’s future is bright.

Despite being stretched thin by Europe, Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad turned in another solid Premier League campaign to finish tenth, but it’s unclear how sustainable the Wolves project is. With superagent Jorge Mendes’ shock announcement that he’s quitting the football business to live in a Tibetan monastery, and taking Rui Patrício with him, there are huge questions about the future makeup of the squad at Molineux.

No one was talking about Southampton before the season, but it turns out that a man who finished second in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig can coach. Ralph Hasenhüttl appears to be building a solid foundation for the future with Che Adams’ solid campaign and the debut of three new academy products. Also, Watford has a Premier League team. Each week, they fielded 11 professional footballers, and they played football well enough to not get sucked into a relegation battle. For that, they should be applauded.

Finally, you know that season Bournemouth have? The one where they start okay, then look like they might be in a bit of trouble, then win five on the bounce including a 4-0 over, idk, Chelsea, then end up in the lower mid-table? Yeah, that happened again.

The Race to Stay in the League

The best of the rest: Aston Villa, who finished in an ultimately comfortable 14th. Heaton & Mings may sound like the consequences of leaving a salmon behind a radiator, but it turns out they are also a decent basis for a solid Premier League defence. Nobody tell Everton.

They were joined in assured safety by Burnley, and while plenty predicted they’d survive again, nobody saw the method coming. Nobody predicted that Sean Dyche would, while on a mini-break in the Dordogne, consume a piece of cheese so strong that it induced a hallucinogenic episode; that the voice of God would speak to him as he writhed in psychedelic delirium; that God would tell him to start playing delicate attacking football and to reinvent James Tarkowski as a no. 10; and that all this would kind of work? Best of luck to Tarkowski at the Camp Nou.

Never has a team felt more “just there” than Sheffield United. Nondescript. Unfussy. Quietly scraped some 1-1 draws against top-half teams and finished on 41 points. Good for them! Crystal Palace’s survival was less assured: it turns out that selling your best defender and annoying your best attacker in the same window can put a club in a bit of a spot.

However, the vagaries of the season conspired to do Palace a massive favour: if the title race had been alive in the final week, Spurs might have picked a full-strength team, and Palace would have been in trouble. But the race was run, and those members of the Spurs squad that weren’t actually on holiday were certainly trying to remember where they’d left their passport. One Gary Cahill hat-trick later, and Palace were safe.

The Race to Get Back to the Championship

It’s sad that such a promising young Norwich side is about to be gutted. The Canaries finished one point from safety while playing ambitious attacking football, but they’ll be entering the Championship with a completely different squad. Offers are already pouring in for Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Ben Godfrey and Emi Buendia. How will Norwich rebuild with £100 million-plus in the bank?

Also looking to come straight back will be Brighton, and though the steady rise of Graham Potter has encountered its first serious stumble, in truth, neither he nor any of Brighton’s players need to take particular blame. Sometimes it seems that the Premier League itself gets tired of certain smaller teams, as though snobbery and elitism are embedded in the very bones of the competition. We can think of no other explanation for a side scoring sixteen own goals in consecutive games.

And finally, that Steve Bruce, he’s a proper football man. Don’t blame this on him. None of this is his fault. His 3-4-3 diamond with Miguel Almiron at the libero was genius. Imagine if Mike Ashley backed him in the transfer market and bought the players to fit his system? Newcastle would have been pushing for Europa League instead of finishing bottom by thirteen points.

We’ve doubled checked with SB Nation’s Experimental Quantum Physics department and they tell us that, as far as they can tell, it’s genuine. So there you go. The future. Or at least, one future. Maybe this one, maybe not. Maybe the very act of reading it is enough to destroy it. We don’t know for sure. The EQP’s emails tend to run on a bit.

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footballghana · 4 years ago

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FEATURE | Amadou Diawara: Africa’s Unsung Gem

From playing at his local church in Guinea to becoming one of Europe’s most in demand midfielders, Amadou Diawara’s story has an air of Hollywood about it.

“When you see him on the pitch he looks like he is playing in the garden of his own house.”

Much like the fictional character Santiago Muñez of the movie Goal, Diawara had parents who didn’t want to hear anything about football. Born in Conakry, Guinea, his father and late mother were both teachers and his siblings pursued studies in pharmacology, medicine and economics. The young male of the family was expected to follow suit.

However, he couldn’t get himself to stop playing. He would often shower at a friend’s house after training so that his parents never found out that he’d spent much of his day kicking a ball around.

Although the 23-year-old didn’t grow up poor, his journey to Europe happened much like that of Muñez. At the age of 16, after being slapped in the face by his father after confessing his dream to play professionally, Diawara was scouted by Roberto Visan, who had visited Conakry and was instantly impressed by the then teenager.

He joined San Marino Calcio, a team based in the country of San Marino that played in the Italian Serie C after excelling at a trial.

After just 15 domineering appearances in Italy’s third division, Corvino ordered purchase of the teenage sensation be completed for an estimated €420,000 in July of 2015.

He made his Serie A debut in the beginning of the season, aged just 18.

Once in Bologna, Diawara proved to be a crucial cog in the Rossoblù and although he didn’t necessarily fit the archetypal bustling and strong African midfielder, his technical ability was second to none.

Making crucial interceptions and reading the game with expert intelligence as a deeper line midfielder, at the tender age of 19, he helped the Serie A side finish 14th in the 2015/16 campaign, after making 35 appearances (31 starts).

Just two years ago he was playing in Guinea with FC Séquence de Dixinn.

In a debut campaign where he played with maturity well beyond his years, it’s no surprise that Europe’s elite were keen on him, which included the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Lamberto Zauli, an ex-midfielder of the Northern Italian outfit, said this about the Guinean international: “He is 18, but when you see him on the pitch he looks like he is playing in the garden of his own house. If he keeps improving, he is destined to become a top player.”

Napoli snatched the youngster after his debut season in Serie A for around €13m. In Naples he continued to flourish.

Emulating his idol, Yaya Toure, Diawara chose 42 as his shirt number. By the time he was 20, Mauricio Sarri played him interchangeably with Jorginho in fulcrum of his midfield.

In a season where he continued to boost his profile as calm head in squad filled with undoubted quality, his seminal moment came against Manchester City in a UEFA Champions League group stages.

Although Gli Azzurri lost 2-1 to the Citizens at the Etihad, he took the responsibility of scoring the penalty in the second half to half the deficit. Unfazed by the stage and willing to take responsibility, by the time Jorginho left for Chelsea in the summer of 2018, he became the undoubted first choice at the Stadio San Paolo.

After three years in Naples he moved to AS Roma for €19m.

Ancellotti, AS Roma and his bright future

In an interview he did on AS Roma’s official website, Diawara revealed the main reason why he left Naples to join the Italian capital of Rome.

“When Carlo Ancelotti took over, I didn’t know if I’d stay at Napoli, but he called me to say that I was in his plans. It didn’t quite pan out that way in the end. He’s a great man, but it didn’t work out that well between us,” he told asroma.com.

After making a move to the Stadio Olimpico in the summer of 2019, Roma manager, Paulo Fonseca, has relied on him as the starting point for their possession-based playing style, and the Guinean has had nothing but praise for how he’s been treated at his new club, but seems to have revealed to his current employers that the three-time Scudetto winners could just be a stepping stone.

“He’s (Fonseca) an excellent coach, who’s quite similar to Sarri. He always wants us to bring the ball out at our feet and make good use of our midfielders, which is something I very much like. This new adventure is another step forward in my career and I have to make the most of it.”

Despite the Italian giants finishing the season outside the UEFA Champions League places in fifth and being knocked out the quarter-final stage of the Europa League against Sevilla last week, the Conakry-born man has been nothing short of outstanding, according to his stats on biENsport.com.

Below are statistics of AS Roma midfielders in comparison to Diawara.

Players (Bottom)

(2019/2020)

Tackles Won %

Interceptions

Duels Won%

Passing Accuracy %

Amadou Diawara

62.5%

55.6%

88.9%

Lorenzo Pellegrini

43.3%

45.2%

81.2%

Bryan Cristante

60%

39.2%

85.2%

Jordan Veretout

50%

48.6%

89.7%

Click Here to find all the statistics regarding Serie A.

Now that he’s been linked with the likes of Arsenal and newly promoted Leeds United over last few weeks, one of Italy’s standout players could be set for his biggest move yet and judging by the progression of his career, don’t be surprised if we see him competing at the very top of European football.

Sources:

ESPN FC

footballwhispers.com

africanfootballhq.com

source: https://footballghana.com/

0 notes

mancitynoise · 5 years ago

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Manchester United have been talked up as possibly the only real option for Jadon Sancho if he leaves Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window.

This is the analysis of the situation from trusted journalist Duncan Castles, who explained on the Transfer Window Podcast why links with Liverpool and Chelsea might be as strong as they seem.

MORE: Chelsea line up surprise transfer raid on Manchester United

Sancho is undoubtedly one of the biggest talents of his generation, and looks set for a big future in the game after his rapid improvement during his time at Dortmund.

The likes of Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea would be lucky to have him, but Castles says the Blues agreeing a deal for Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech, as confirmed on their official site today, makes it unlikely they’ll also go in for Sancho.

The England international has also been linked with Liverpool, but Castles says that while the Reds are interested in him, they’re worried about the cost of the deal and his likely wage demands which could cause tension in the Anfield dressing room.

This, he believes, possibly only leaves United as a real option, though we imagine the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona might have something to say about that!

Jadon Sancho looks set for a big summer transfer away from Borussia Dortmund

Castles said: “There’s an indication that Dortmund are ready to sell in the summer, they’ve got the development they think they can get from him, they’ve raised his value to the point where they think they can get over 100m euros. The agents are trying to get the best environment for Sancho.

“With Ziyech signing for Chelsea, it makes it difficult for Chelsea to sign Sancho. Lampard was opposed to bringing Lampard in the January window and didn’t want that scale of transfer to be associated with him as his first big deal at Chelsea.

“Liverpool like Jadon Sancho a lot but they’re briefing that they don’t want to overpay for him and don’t want to overpay his wages for his type and age which could cause dressing room problems. So that probably limits Sancho’s realistic option to Manchester United now.”