All posts by n8rngtd.top

Many Everton fans have been left in agreement with Jamie Carragher after he did some analysis on the Goodison Park faithful on Monday Night Football.

The Liverpool legend said (via Toffee TV) that it would be a ‘disappointment’ if the Merseyside club do not qualify for European competition for the start of the 2021/22 term due to the quality of manager they have in Carlo Ancelotti, but thinks that the Toffees will fall short of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues are currently sitting in seventh spot in the Premier League table at the moment on 43 points, just two off of fourth-placed West Ham United with a game in hand (BBC Sport).

While qualifying for Europe’s elite competition is of course a possibility for Ancelotti and his side, they still have the likes of reigning champions Liverpool and big spenders Chelsea to compete with, while also potentially looking over their shoulder for more challengers.

Everton fan reaction to Carragher analysis

These EFC supporters agreed on Carragher’s analysis on Twitter:

“No he’s absolutely right there. Let’s not forget this is Carlo’s first full season, what he’s done already is lay the foundations for the future.”

Credit: @IanG1878

“Completely agree!”

Credit: @james_page26

“Spot on for me, after this season I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get Europe.”

Credit: @PfftSwifti

“Think he has a point to be fair. Our priority is Europa, anything else is a bonus.”

Credit: @nickgartland

“He’s spot on tbh”

Credit: @Yaboiholo

“Think he’s right tbf, but you never know”

Credit: @scousemouse56

In other news, find out what Fabrizio Romano transfer update has been lauded by Everton fans here!

Crystal Palace slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road in a result which has left Roy Hodgson’s side outside the top half of the Premier League table.

Palace allowed Leeds to take an early lead through Jack Harrison, and struggled to earn a foothold in the game thereafter once Patrick Bamford put the game beyond the Eagles shortly after the break, leaving them level on points with Southampton and two adrift of Arsenal.

Unfortunately it was one of those nights for Luka Milivojevic as slack passing and poor positioning cut a bad night in the office for the club captain.

As per SofaScore ratings, the 29-year-old was graded as the worst player on the pitch with a miserable 6.0 rating – the only starter other than Nathaniel Clyne from either team to receive such a low score.

Milivojevic’s midfield pivot with Jairo Riedewald backfired as both were closed down far too easily in the first half, as evidenced by the fact he lost seven of his nine duels overall (78%).

We can’t quite get our heads around why he stayed on the pitch for as long as he did because the way he was playing wasn’t going to help them salvage a point at the very least. Despite his tall frame, the 6 ft colossus failed to win either of his two duels in the air.

Not only was he lightweight, he was badly caught out with poor passing, particularly in the first 45 minutes, as he could only provide two accurate long balls from four attempts and also lost possession ten times, the same amount as Nathaniel Clyne, which was far below his season’s average of 7.9 per 90.

This is a clear indication of just how much of a passenger Milivojevic was for Palace which could spell trouble for Hodgson given the fact the ever-reliable James McArthur was nowhere to be seen.

Milivojevic also conceded two fouls, which was more than Clyne and the most of any player on the pitch other than Jordan Ayew and Kalvin Phillips, whilst he also committed an error leading to a shot as well to sum up his frustrations on the night.

With Burnley next on the agenda, Hodgson will have to consider his midfield options carefully indeed if he wishes to avoid further embarrassment.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace suffer Wilfried Zaha injury blow before Leeds clash…

Steven Gerrard has said that Glasgow Rangers cannot defend Alfredo Morelos after his latest show of indiscipline.

Morelos cannot be defended

Colombia international Morelos will be missing for three Premiership games following his stamp on Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous during the Gers’ 1-0 victory (BBC).

Speaking ahead of the Ibrox outfit’s clash with St. Johnstone, Gerrard confirmed that he could not defend the actions of the 24-year-old. He said (via SportsMole):

“I have looked at the incident a lot of times and I don’t think there is a case for us to defend in this situation.

“Having said that, it doesn’t mean we are pleased with everything that happened in that game or has happened during this season or previous seasons.

“So it is something behind the scenes that myself and the board are working very hard on in terms of trying to find better solutions in terms of the disciplinary and the processes that go on.

“It is something we will continue to try to be a support to in terms of the authorities to try and make things better and more consistent.

“It is obviously disappointing from my point of view not to have Alfredo available, it is what it is and my focus is on the players that are available.”

No-one to blame but himself

You would forgive Gerrard for running out of patience with Morelos. The former Liverpool captain has already seen the striker receive his marching orders seven times under his tutelage (Transfermarkt), and he has sailed close to the wind on a number of occasions already this term – he slapped the back of Scott Brown’s head in the first Old Firm derby of the season, while he avoided a red card after elbowing Dundee United’s Mark Connolly (he was retrospectively given a two-match suspension for that incident).

He has popped up with some important goals this season – for example, he bagged a brace as the Gers defeated Aberdeen 2-1, and he netted the only goal of the game in that victory over Hibs – but he remains a player Gerrard cannot fully rely on, and you feel he may never mature enough to eradicate these moments of madness from his game.

With Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten and Jermain Defoe all at the boss’ disposal, the absence of Morelos is no longer a huge problem.

In other news, Rangers fans were delighted with a clip of this broadcaster.

Ever since Emile Smith Rowe was thrust into the starting line-up against Chelsea towards the end of 2020, Arsenal have looked a completely different team.

They’ve rattled off five wins in six games, and the England youth international was in superb form once again in his side’s Premier League win over Newcastle on Monday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the end, and whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck two goals and was awarded the Man of the Match award by Sky Sports for his performance, it was Smith Rowe who arguably stole the show.

The 20-year-old was once again deployed in the number ten role, something that held even more significance given Mesut Ozil’s imminent departure to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

And Smith Rowe was the creative hub of the Gunners as they ground Newcastle down in the first-half, and then opened them up in the second.

Aside from a glorious run and cut-back for Bukayo Saka’s goal, the Arsenal academy product also provided four key passes on the night – the most of any Gunners ace, and as much as the entire Newcastle team combined. It was his choice and timing of passing that really stood out, never trying to force things and always making sure he moved things forward for his side.

Speaking after the game, Arteta described both Saka and Smith Rowe as “extraordinary”, whilst Jamie Carragher raved about him on punditry duty for Sky Sports.

He said: “You feel like he’s always in control. He’s trying to beat a man, he beats him, but he gets the composure right too, and the night belonged to Emile Smith Rowe – I thought he was outstanding.

“He looks like someone who actually plays the right pass for the team at that time. People might watch it and not think it’s very spectacular, but when you play with players like that, who always make the right decision, it’s not about looking good, it’s about helping your team-mate, giving him the ball.”

Smith Rowe’s impact cannot be understated, and with the Gunners still seemingly in the market for a new attacking midfielder – they’ve been linked with Norwich’s Emi Buendia in recent weeks – Edu faces a major headache about how he goes about doing that.

The north London side have a real talent on their hands, and the last thing he needs for his development is someone who’s just going to come in and take minutes away from him and stunt his progress. The Gunners’ technical director has a tough decision to make in this January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Arsenal heading for another Balogun disaster…

When Raul Jimenez suffered a fractured skull against Arsenal last month, everyone at Wolves feared the worst.

Their star man was now out injured for a prolonged period of time and the player they had to rely on instead was just 18 years of age.

What’s the word?

The transfer window has come just at the right time for Wolves who are searching for reinforcements in the market, namely in attacking positions.

According to Eurosport FR (via Get Football News France) Jeff Shi and his recruitment team are eyeing up a move for Montpellier forward Gaetan Laborde.

They face competition from two unnamed Bundesliga clubs in a bid to sign him. Per Transfermarkt, the 26-year-old is valued at around £11.7m. Thus, a sizable fee seems unlikely.

His wages are also far from astronomical. Laborde earns £23k-per-week in Ligue 1, so this shouldn’t be a deal that sets Wolves back very much.

Ideal for Nuno

Laborde is far from a household name, particularly in English football, but he’d be an exceptional investment for a side who need cover for Jimenez.

When you look at the Frenchman, he plays in a very similar way to Wolves’ number 9 and that’s not just in terms of his goals.

The 6-foot striker – who stands just three inches smaller than Jimenez – is a commanding force in the air and has won a mammoth 70 aerial duels this season – 3.9 a match. Considering he’s of lesser stature than the Mexican, he’s actually more dominant in that part of the game. For context, Jimenez has only won 1.5 battles in the air a game.

That isn’t the only thing Laborde offers though. Like his potential new teammate, he is adept at bringing others into play and has five assists to go with his six goals in Ligue 1 this term.

A big part of Jimenez’s game is that he can hold the ball up and utilise others well, something that Laborde does to near perfection.

A cut-price option in January, the Montpellier forward looks like a handy player and would undoubtedly add valuable depth to Wolves’ frontline.

AND in other news, Wolves can land huge Silva upgrade in 9-goal beast, he’s on his “way to the top”…

Manchester United are undoubtedly one of the biggest football clubs in the world. In terms of their history, finances, stadium and fan base, they can compare to anyone on the planet.That is why their Champions League exit at the hands of RB Leipzig simply cannot be accepted. Admittedly, they were handed a very tough group, which included PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir, along with the classy German outfit. Nevertheless, United should still have expected to qualify when you consider the resources they have, but once again, they came up short. However, the most worrying aspect is that nobody was really surprised because the standards at Old Trafford have slipped so much.

A quick glance at the latest football odds shows that you can get 16/1 for the Red Devils to win the Premier League. So, even in this season, one of the most unpredictable ever, the neutrals still don’t give United much of a chance. What’s also worrying for the fans is that nobody would dispute that, as the side have fallen way behind Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Tottenham.

From top to bottom, they are a club that lacks an identity or a plan. That was encapsulated by the fact that key figures are now apparently demanding the club look into appointing a director of football once again. They wanted one, they didn’t want one and now they want one again.

Ultimately, that lies with the Glazers, right at the very top. They need to set out a clear vision that everyone can buy into, and they then must appoint the right people in the right places. Whether that means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keeps his job is open to debate, although the idea that he should be the United manager because he ‘knows the club’ is astounding in today’s game.

That lack of planning has also been evident on the pitch. After years in charge, Solskjaer still hasn’t settled on a formation and key men don’t play to their potential under his guidance.

The saving grace for the Norwegian, and those above him, is that United have somehow managed to just about avoid a catastrophe in the past. They can go 2-0 down to Southampton, but individual magic will rescue them. Similarly, a poor Premier League performance can be overshadowed by a magnificent win in Paris in Europe. They would be on the cusp of a disaster, yet they would just about get out of it.

That didn’t happen against Leipzig though, even though they nearly managed the unthinkable after trailing 3-0 with 20 minutes to play. In the end, though, they were out. We all know the importance of playing in the Champions League to the money men, so the recent elimination will have hurt. It should mean those awkward questions are asked, and then action can be taken.

As one of the richest and most powerful clubs in the world, it’s about time Manchester United started using that to their advantage. The embarrassment of falling into the Europe League, again, has to be the wake-up call that fans have been warning about for years as they look to build a team that can thrive domestically and in Europe, as they should.

Since joining from Bristol City, Luke Ayling has been one of Leeds United’s most consistent performers, playing well over 150 games in less than five seasons at the club.And under Marcelo Bielsa, the 29-year-old has been a beacon of reliability, figuring week-in and week-out for the Whites. This season has seen him split his game-time at both right-back and centre-back, and on Wednesday night against West Brom, he was once again used in the middle.Bielsa’s side ran riot at the Hawthorns, racing to a four-goal lead at half-time, before a Raphina strike mid-way through the second-half put the icing on the cake of an emphatic 5-0 win away from home in the Premier League.And whilst the Baggies hardly laid a glove on the visitors, there’s no questioning that Ayling looked absolutely supreme at the heart of defence, boasting a superb reading of the game and coolness in possession.As per Sofascore, he had 133 touches of the ball and made a whopping 109 passes too – both of which were team-highs. Added to that, he also won all eight of his duels on the night (four on the ground and four in the air), and completed nine of his 15 attempted long balls.His rapid progress under Bielsa has been something to behold, and a couple of Leeds fans on Twitter seemed to think so too, with one hailing his development over the past couple of years, and describing him as a “top-level” centre-back now.

Bielsa’s long and illustrious career has seen him work with some of the world’s best talents, but his coaching at Elland Road and improving Ayling in particular has been nothing short of fantastic.

Capable of playing in a back-four or a back-three, or as a full-back or as a centre-back, Ayling just seamlessly adapts to whatever his manager demands of him, and has been a consistently impressive presence for the Whites.

They may have missed out on Ben White in the summer, but Ayling is showing that they don’t really miss him at all.

Former Portugal international Jorge Costa has torn into West Ham United winger Felipe Anderson for the Brazilian’s slack efforts whilst on loan with FC Porto.

Costa, who graduated from the Porto academy before captaining the Liga NOS giants during his playing days, has brandished Anderson as a “big disappointment” during a recent interview with O Jogo.

Anderson joined the Estadio do Dragao natives on a season-long loan this summer after failing to impress David Moyes last term, with the Scot ultimately preferring a sizable loan fee and the Brazilian’s wage being covered than to utilise his services after failing to secure a permanent transfer.

Moyes called on the 27-year-old to start just four of his 10 Premier League appearances between replacing Manuel Pellegrini at the London Stadium and sanctioning the temporary transfer, with Anderson also offering his first and only goal during the Scot’s first top-flight fixture back with the Hammers.

Porto are yet to see any return from their agreement to cover Anderson’s wages, said to be in excess of £100,000-per-week, as the former SS Lazio star Pellegrini signed for a then-club-record £36million has featured for just 49 minutes across all competitions to date.

Porto boss Sergio Conceicao is yet to award the one-time Brazil international his first start, either, instead favouring Anderson from the bench while even leaving the attacker out of his matchday squad to face Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League entirely.

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The forward’s struggles saw Costa, who currently manages Romanian club CS Gaz Metan Medias, tell O Jogo: “Anderson is, for now, a big disappointment.”

The 50-cap ex-international is not the first to question Anderson, either, as Porto boss Conceicao recently told Desporto Ao Minuto that his early impression of the Irons outcast was that he is not committing his all to the Liga NOS side and must forget his prior achievements in order to be a success in the future.

“Felipe has this notion, that in order to return to having brilliant moments as he had, it is necessary to work hard,” he said.

“Anything he does now can have beautiful consequences in the future, and everything that happened no longer matters, he stays at home in the museum. The important thing is what you will do at FC Porto.”

Moyes will undoubtedly agree with Conceicao that all that matters for Anderson right now is what he can achieve with Porto, as any further failings in Portugal this season will cause the West Ham manager to have nightmares in 2021 should he again try and sell him.

Any hopes Anderson has of reviving his Irons career next year will also come short, unless he can prove to Moyes that he can offer more than the one goal from four big chances and four assists recorded throughout the 2019/20 Premier League campaign, per SofaScore.

AND in other news, David Moyes enjoyed a narrow escape on a £31.5m sensation West Ham courted this summer.

Wolves U23s manager James Collins heaped praise on youngster Theo Corbeanu after his performance against Doncaster Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Corbeanu has the world at his feet

The Canadian-born Romanian winger has only recently been introduced to the second string setup after scoring four goals and providing one assist in the U18 Premier League last season. Corbeanu has managed to replicate that form for Collins’ team, scoring twice from his first seven outings (via TransferMarkt).

The 18-year-old played just behind the club’s record signing Fabio Silva, as his Portuguese teammate notched a brace which helped them to a 2-1 win at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Cited by BirminghamLive, Collins was full of praise for Corbeanu and is excited about what is to come from him.

“He’s athletic, tall, can head it, can defend, can dribble past people and score, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s both footed, he’s got a bit of everything,” he said.

“Theo can be anything he wants to be,” Collins continues. “He’s an outstanding prospect. But, and there’s always a but with these players, he’s got to learn to play within the system and play with the others, adapt his game for different scenarios and situations.

“He’s got to keep improving and he knows that, he’s another good kid who wants to learn – but I think Theo can be as good as he wants to be.”

Transfer Tavern take

Corbeanu has made himself one of Collins’ key assets already during this campaign, which could force Nuno Espirito Santo into looking at him for possible first-team appearances further down the line.

Having played alongside Silva so competently, Corbeanu has put his name out there and supporters will now be more away of his ability, thanks to Collins’ generous words about him.

The former Romania U17 international needs to maintain his consistency and ensure that his attitude is spot on. If he can do that, the Molineux faithful could have another future star on their hands.

In other news, Wolves fans beg Nuno Espirito Santo to sign ‘monster’ midfielder.

After producing an outstanding display in their first Premier League game after well over a decade, Leeds were less than convincing as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the first time of asking.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side may have slipped to a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend, but they more than held their own against the reigning top-flight champions.

And whilst the Leeds boss rang the changes for the contest against Hull on Wednesday night, he surely would have been expecting a lot more from his fringe players, particularly someone like Tyler Roberts.

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With Bielsa calling on a number of much younger players, Roberts, with 55 first-team appearances to his name for the club, was actually one of the more experienced players on the pitch, even despite himself only being 21.

The Wales international came off the bench to play against the Reds on Saturday, and he had the perfect opportunity against Hull to stake his claim for a starting spot for Leeds’ next Premier League clash.

Instead, he badly let his manager down with a hugely disappointing display, with his 6.4 match rating only better than teammate Oliver Casey on the night.

The 5 foot 11 ace conceded possession a staggering 17 times over the course of the 90 minutes, and lost eight out of his 13 total duels. But aside from being dominated too easily, Roberts was not much of a threat when he had the ball, registering no shots on goal or dribbles whatsoever and providing just one key pass.

Whilst Bielsa may not be too fussed about exiting the Carabao Cup – the Premier League of will course be the Whites’ priority this season – the game against Hull did offer some of his players the chance to prove that they can be a useful part of the first-team squad.

Instead, Roberts and co showed that Leeds’ strength in depth needs a whole lot of work, and if they are going to achieve top-flight safety, it may have to be done with just a small core group of players.