All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith came very close to being sacked by the club at one point in his tenure.

Villa are currently safe and secure in a midtable Premier League position, but it has been reported that things weren’t always as rosy for Smith during his time at the helm.

Smith nearly got the sack in 2019

Football Insider have recently reported about Smith, saying that the club would’ve sacked the Englishman if they had lost to Derby County in a Championship game back in March 2019. The defeat would’ve left them further behind in the race for promotion and chief executive Christian Purslow was reportedly ready to let go of Smith just five months into his tenure.

As much as Smith’s job was on the line, Villa picked up a very impressive 4-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Derby. Conor Hourihane grabbed a brace, with Jack Grealish and loanee Tammy Abraham scoring a goal each (BBC Sport). From there, they never looked back.

Decision to not sack Smith paying off

In the 2018/19 Championship campaign, Villa finished fifth in the table but they won promotion via the play-offs, beating Derby in the final to return to the top flight.

While they avoided relegation only narrowly last season, some quality summer spending has left them on course to secure a midtable finish this term.

If Villa can invest well in the summer once again, they could end up going one better and potentially finish closer to the European places. Considering the job Smith has done since he was threatened with the sack two years ago, supporters can be glad that Purslow didn’t pull the trigger.

In other news, ‘Phenomenal’ £47k-p/w Villa ace linked with shock exit; 8-word reveal key to any deal – report

Rumoured Liverpool transfer target Gavi looks set to commit his long-term future to Barcelona, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Gavi linked with Reds move

The 17-year-old has burst onto the scene and looks like the next great player to have emerged from Barca’s ranks, making his Spain debut already and winning three caps.

Liverpool were linked with a move for Gavi last month in what was an exciting rumour, considering the potential that the midfielder appears to have.

With Blaugrana legend Xavi taking charge at the Nou Camp, however, the situation surrounding the teenager’s future now looks more clear.

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The Latest: Romano shuts down transfer

According to Romano on Twitter, a long-term contract offer is on the table for Gavi, with the player himself wanting to stay put at Barcelona. The journalist posted:

“Barcelona are prepared to enter in the final stages of Gavi’s new contract negotiation. The long-term proposal [salary increasing from year to year] will be on the table soon… and Gavi wants to stay.

“Xavi also approved Barça board plan to keep Gavi for the next years.”

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The Verdict: Always unlikely

While the idea of Gavi trading Barca for Liverpool was an exciting one, there was always a feeling that he would end up remaining at the club where he has come through the ranks.

At 17, it would have been a shock if the Spaniard had upped sticks and moved on so soon. However, should the Catalan giants continue to struggle as they have been this season, his mindset could change eventually.

Football legend Lionel Messi has hailed Gavi as ‘very good’, which speaks volumes about the teenager’s potential, and it will be intriguing to see if the Reds keep an eye on his progress.

In other news, Liverpool are believed to be lining up a move for one player in January. Find out who it is here.

Taking to Twitter, Portuguese transfer journalist Pedro Almeida has now dropped an exciting transfer claim as Celtic eye a permanent deal for Jota.

The Lowdown: Jota shines at Parkhead…

Since signing on loan from Benfica in the summer, the 22-year-old has gone on to dazzle at Parkhead under Ange Postecoglou, and there have been reports speculating whether Celtic will trigger his €7.5m (£6.2m) option-to-buy clause in the deal.

Indeed, rumours from Portugal indicate that Postecoglou and the Hoops are eager to do so, as they have until the end of this season to decide whether to take him on permanently.

A Bola believe that Celtic are ‘willing to do so’ given they are ‘satisfied’ with the performance of Jota, with reporter Almeida now backing this claim as he drops an exciting Twitter transfer message.

The Latest: Almeida drops exciting Jota claim…

Taking to social media, the reporter believes that Postecoglou and co will now ‘advance’ to Jota’s ‘definitive’ signing from Benfica on a permanent move as he explained:

“Celtic will advance to the definitive signing of Jota from Benfica for €7.5M”

The Verdict: No-brainer…

It is no secret that the 22-year-old has been a revelation for Celtic in Scotland and we believe that the club would be remiss not to try and make his stay in Glasgow permanent.

A real statement of intent for £6.2m, a deal which would place Jota in the club’s top ten most expensive signings of all time (Transfermarkt), he is arguably worth every penny.

From a performance perspective, the Portugal under-21 international is currently Celtic’s joint-second top scorer in the Scottish top flight, while only David Turnbull has averaged a higher rate of attempts on goal per 90, marking Jota out as a true threat in the final third (WhoScored).

The attacker has also received garlands galore from Scottish pundits, including Celtic legend John Hartson, who branded him ‘dynamite’ and a ‘very special’ player (Daily Record).

It seems likely that Jota is only going to get better and better judging by his young age, not to mention the potential for a seismic sell-on value if he continues to impress in Scotland.

Taking all this into account, securing his signature indefinitely must surely be a priority for Postecoglou and Celtic.

In other news: Source reveals Celtic plan to cash in on record-breaker in January; replacement ready

Everton journalist Adam Jones reckons Rafael Benitez could switch to a 4-3-3 formation with Richarlison up front for the visit of Arsenal on Monday night. 

The lowdown

Everton are looking to halt a dreadful run of form that has seen them win just one of their last 10 matches.

They’ve taken seven losses in that period, slipping to 16th in the Premier League table.

Benitez has almost always set out his team in a 4-4-1-1 formation since taking over at Goodison Park in the summer.

The Spaniard was criticised for maintaining a midfield two against Liverpool last time out, with one journalist arguing it was a move that ‘gave the game’ to the visitors and an analytics expert confessing himself ‘baffled’.

The latest

The Liverpool Echo’s Jones writes that Benitez ‘could opt’ for a change of system that would see Fabian Delph drafted into the midfield alongside Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Richarlison would serve as a lone number nine.

He points out that there have already been glimpses of this shape in the games against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur, and says it seems to be ‘the most effective right now’.

The verdict

Delph may not be the most popular player amongst the Goodison supporters, but he put in a strong performance in that game against Conte’s Spurs, earning a SofaScore rating of 7.3/10.

He won four of his six ground duels and completed eight of the 10 long balls he attempted.

The Press Association’s Carl Markham called his display ‘excellent’, while The Daily Mail’s Dominic King dubbed him the team’s man of the match ‘by some considerable distance’.

Perhaps recalling the £80,000-per-week midfielder, and reinstating the 4-3-3 shape, could be a smart move.

In other news, fans flocked to this news on a possible Benitez replacement.

Keith Downie has dropped an interesting claim on Mike Ashley amid the potential takeover of Newcastle United by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

As per a tweet from the Sky Sports journalist, the chief executive of Sports Direct feels as if he ‘has a very strong case’ against the Premier League that he can win, and that the proposed deal between him and the KSA consortium can still be pushed through.

This follows the news that the St. James’ Park faithful have lost out on a High Court judgement to have the Chairman of the takeover arbitration panel removed, while also losing out on the full case being made available to the public.

However, this has not stopped Ashley trying to get the deal that he wants, with the proposed arbitration case between the North East club and the English top flight still pending.

Potential Newcastle takeover still on?

Despite the latest setback for the Tyneside club of not being able to have the Chairman removed, the potential takeover of the Magpies by the KSA group seems to be very much still on judging by Ashley’s claim.

If the Toon can win their case, then it may pave a significant pathway for the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to come back to the table, as the NUFC takeover saga continues to develop.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ talent Lee Clark has urged Newcastle to sign here!

Sheffield Wednesday embark on a new era this evening as Darren Moore takes charge of his first game since being appointed as new Owls boss this week.

It’s a crucial match too as they welcome local and relegation rivals Rotherham United to Hillsborough Stadium for a cliched ‘six-pointer.’

A victory would see Wednesday leapfrog the Millers into the final relegation spot, though they’d still be several points away from safety, so Moore needs to get it spot on immediately.

On the Chalkboard

After suffering four consecutive defeats, the latest of which being an almighty collapse against Luton, something has got to change.

Owls interim Neil Thompson reverted back to a 3-5-2 but failed to bring Adam Reach back into the equation at left wing-back, a decision that proved costly as the 28-year-old can be one of their most influential players, on his day.

Indeed, the long-serving utility man has contributed towards five goals in 25 starts (three goals, two assists), which is only bettered by three other players, so he really ought to start.

Reach’s best performances have come on the left side of defence, with average ratings of 7.31 at left-back and 6.59 at left wing-back, as per WhoScored.

He is also amongst the Owls’ most creative players, having averaged 0.8 key passes per 90 minutes, only bettered by two other regular starters, as well as 0.7 accurate crosses per 90, which is only bettered than the same two players – Barry Bannan and fellow wing man, Kadeem Harris.

Interestingly, both of whom started, but Reach didn’t.

Wednesday journalist George Smith emphasised the £2.88m-rated dynamo’s importance to The Athletic, he said: “On his day, Reach can be one of the most influential players in the Championship,” before adding: “He is a very important player for Wednesday.”

Whilst sacked Owls boss Tony Pulis dubbed him a “top player.”

Given the weight of tonight’s result, a player as key as Reach simply has to start.

Moore must kickstart his reign with a win, and his chances will be boosted by deploying the versatile £20k-per-week gem out on that left flank.

AND in other news, Moore appointment could be game-changing for Sheffield Wednesday’s £26k-p/w “match-winner”…

Everton are reportedly now targeting a move for Adama Traore in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Future uncertain

Traore was sent out on loan to FC Barcelona from Wolves back in January, and so his future at Molineux is uncertain with neither Barca or Wolves seeming particularly keen to keep him long term.

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His contract at the Midlands club expires in 2023, and so it will be up to them whether they look to cash in on him in the summer or risk losing him for free the following year.

The Latest: Targeted

As per Football Insider, a source from Goodison Park has revealed that the Merseyside club are now monitoring Traore as an ‘attacking target’, and Kevin Thelwell is thought to be a ‘big admirer’ of his, having originally signed him for the Wanderers for a club-record fee back in 2018.

The Toffees are ‘keeping tabs’ on his situation, as Barcelona have an option to buy him in the summer, and ‘could make a move’ if they decide not to sign him permanently.

The Verdict: Sign

Currently rated at £25.2m, Traore could be the marquee signing that Frank Lampard’s team need to kick on, should they end up avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Likened to Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton by Martin Keown, the Spain international possesses blistering speed, a unique trait that the Blues could exploit to their advantage.

Of course, he has the added experience of playing in the top flight in both England and Spain too, and at 26 years of age is just about to enter his prime.

Nonetheless, he is a player that should get the supporters off of their seats and lift the mood around Goodison.

In other news, find out which 5/10 EFC dud Adam Jones slammed against Leicester City here!

Ahead of what could be the most important transfer window of Neil Lennon’s career, a lot of rumours are circling around Celtic. The reigning Premiership champions have been linked to a number of exciting players who could help keep the Irishman in a job.

However, despite now becoming desperate as his role at the club hangs in the balance, Lennon and co can’t afford to sign any old player in order to fill gaps.

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic have been linked to out of favour Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard. The England international is reportedly looking for a move away from Old Trafford in January after struggling for game time this season. He is yet to play a Premier League match this campaign and has been limited to just two appearances in the EFL Cup (via Transfermarkt).

Whilst the attraction of a big international name might be tempting for Nick Hammond, the club must look at the bigger picture and snub their interest in Lingard.

Why Celtic must not sign Lingard

The 27-year-old’s current contract is set to run out next summer and United will not want to take a loss on him. The likelihood is that both the player and club will come to an agreement where he will be allowed to leave in January for a reduced fee in order to entice interested parties in.

But for the Hoops, this isn’t a deal they should be looking to sign off on. Despite his versatility to play on either wing as well as in the attacking midfield role, the man costing the Reds £90,000 per week has numbers that are no better than that of Lennon reject Tom Rogic.

Last season, Lingard tallied just four goals and two assists in 40 appearances across all competitions for Man United. Meanwhile, the Celtic midfielder bagged three goals and five assists in 17 less appearances.

Recruiting a player of a similar age and calibre would be pointless for Celtic who are pushing to better Rangers next season. Lingard is not a player the Hoops should be prioritising – they risk further stagnating their team if they don’t expand their horizons and target more creative players.

In other news, Eddie Howe has been tipped as Neil Lennon’s Celtic successor…

West Ham are leading the race to sign Sam Johnstone this summer, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

That’s according to ESPN, who claim that the Irons are the front-runners to land the coveted West Brom goalkeeper due to manager David Moyes previously working with the 28-year-old at Manchester United.

The Red Devils are also said to be interested in bringing him back to the club. with David de Gea’s future in doubt, whilst Spurs are thought to be admirers, too.

Albion are said to value their no.1 shot-stopper at around £18m after an impressive season between the sticks for the Midlands strugglers.

An eye on the future?

It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see Moyes sign a new gloveman in the summer as by the time the new season swings around, first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski will be 36 and his backup, Darren Randolph, will be 34.

Despite his side possessing the worst defensive record in the Premier League, Johnstone has actually been a commanding presence in goal for the Baggies and without him, they’d probably be officially relegated already. At 6 foot 4, he has proven to be one of the division’s best shot-stoppers – hardly a surprise given they face so many attempts each game.

As per FBRef, the £32.5k-per-week Hawthorns star makes 4.27 saves per 90 minutes, the most in the Premier League. And his success-rate of 71.2% ranks slightly ahead of Moyes’ current no.1 (68.5%).

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Johnstone has earned high praise throughout the campaign, as a result of his fine performances.

“He’s one of the best [goalkeepers],” explained manager Sam Allardyce to talkSPORT. Whilst Glenn Hoddle told the Evening Standard: “I have seen him four times this year and he has been outstanding.”

He has kept some big names at bay with his imposing stature between the sticks, too – mooted Irons target Danny Ings couldn’t score past him despite two shots, and in that game, Johnstone rated as SofaScore’s top player and similarly, not even Edinson Cavani could find the net either, with the shot-stopper among Albion’s best-performers again.

Recently he was called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad but did not feature on the pitch, though that is an encouraging sign for him ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

Also lauded as a “diamond” to work with by Steve Bruce, Johnstone would be an interesting candidate to push Fabianski and become Moyes’ next first-choice.

It’s a move that former Hammers man Frank McAvennie would like to see happen too. Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week, he said: “I think it would be really good business,” before adding: “It’s right up West Ham’s street.”

GSB, Moyes and the club should absolutely seal a swoop for Johnstone this summer. At £18m, it could prove to be a steal.

AND in other news, West Ham could find perfect Rice replacement in “exceptional” £30m-rated beast…

Celtic manager John Kennedy implored referees to ‘at least make the right calls’ after his team lost 4-1 in Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

Kemar Roofe scored twice as their rivals completed a first unbeaten season against the Hoops since 1999/20.

The odds were stacked against Celtic just 26 minutes in when Callum McGregor was shown a second yellow card and they were reduced to 10 men.

Kennedy shares biggest disappointment after heavy defeat

Kennedy did not dispute the latter decision, admitting that McGregor ought to have been booked for taking down Glen Kamara in the build-up to Roofe’s opener.

However, he disputed the notion that there was any ‘recklessness’ in the first tackle on Ryan Kent, and he pointed to another instance which underlined a lack of consistency in the officiating.

“There was an incident with Edouard on the far side when he was breaking through into the final third and he got taken down with a slide tackle and it was only a free-kick,” Kennedy told Sky Sports.

“There’s no consistency there. That’s what I’m most disappointed with. Red cards can happen, but at least make the right calls.

“It didn’t quite fall into place today. I’m disappointed with the result, massively. But, as you can see, I’m a bit annoyed with the sending off.”

Kennedy nearing the end of Celtic manager stint?

Kennedy may only take charge of two more games before handing the reins over to Neil Lennon’s long-term replacement at Parkhead.

Celtic host St Johnstone a week on Wednesday before travelling to Hibernian on the final day of the season.

Up to this point, he’s overseen three wins, three draws and two defeats during his time at the helm.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Kennedy may have a point about the foul on Edouard, but the question that has to be asked is why McGregor would make the challenge on Kamara so soon after being booked.

Remember, he is the vice-captain and the likely successor to Scott Brown for the permanent captaincy. A cooler head was needed from such an experienced leader..

In other news, Kennedy had this to say about Oliver Ntcham’s future.