All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester United’s miserable season came to an end this weekend with a terrible 2-0 loss at home to Cardiff City.

The Red Devils finished their campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in fitting fashion to sum up their entire campaign, and there is now a long summer ahead for the club as they look to overhaul a squad which is in desperate need of change.

Manager Solskjaer will no doubt have a clear picture of what he wants to do over the summer, and it’s clear that certain players will need to be moved on while new faces will be a must at the club too.

One man who has been linked with a move to the club this weekend is Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who has been in fine form for the Toffees this season as he has cemented his place as a key name on the first XI team sheet.

However, here in the Tavern, we feel this is another example of a signing which just does not do enough for United, and Gueye is a player who the club should not be looking to shell out the reported £40m on.

While Gueye has proved himself a capable midfield player in the top flight, he is hardly of the quality to drive United forward into a new era, and at 29, doesn’t exactly have time on his side in terms of development and improvement.

United need either proven world class talent or younger players who will g develop into valuable assets for the club. Sadly for Gueye, he doesn’t quite fit this mould and is someone who should be avoided by United in an ideal world.

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Liverpool and Crystal Palace fans are divided.

There are some fantastic, ongoing debates to be had in the world of football – fans everywhere will be at each-others’ throats until the end of time because they believe Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi or vice versa, for instance.

Fans of one team will be inclined to say that their star man is better than another team’s star man and when these players share a position, age or nationality, comparisons are inevitable.

The raging debate between Crystal Palace and Liverpool fans as to whether Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Trent Alexander-Arnold is better, has come to the fore this season, with both impressing greatly and earning plenty of plaudits.

The former’s stoic showings have caught they eyes of both Manchester clubs, while the latter has become one of the first names on the team-sheet for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold, 20, was a huge part of the Reds’ incredible comeback against Barcelona at Anfield on Tuesday night, with the number 66 recording his 14th and 15th assists of the season in all competitions – an example of how the starlet’s incredible delivery can win a game for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Wan-Bissaka has arguably been winning games for his side all season, although without the genius corners and clever cutbacks. The right-back has established himself as one of the league’s best one-on-one defenders and has been dribbled past just 0.3 times per game, while also completing 3.8 tackles and 2.5 interceptions on average.

Both bring so much to their sides but are rated so highly for completely polarised reasons – Wan-Bissaka is winning fans by defending to a world-class standard, while Alexander-Arnold is going beyond the call of duty as a full-back to cause incredible damage on the front foot.

With just three assists to his name this season, the Palace star has a long way to go if he is to replicate the offensive output of Liverpool’s sensation, although Alexander-Arnold, who completes 2 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, also has some big improvements to make if he is to match Wan-Bissaka’s defensive output.

In truth, though, neither team need either to improve in their supposedly weaker departments. Liverpool’s system relies heavily on the width provided by and the delivery into the box from their full-backs, while Palace simply need their wide defenders to lock the flank down and release the likes of Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha on the counter.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

Wan-Bissaka and Alexander-Arnold are the perfect players for their respective sides to have and, while a pinch of the other’s best qualities would help, neither need that to become an elite full-back.

This debate doesn’t need to be decided; it shouldn’t even be a thing, in fact.

Both youngsters might share nationalities, positions and generations but comparing them is nonsensical.

If anything, the only question regarding the exciting duo that should be asked is how Gareth Southgate can squeeze both into his England XI this summer.

This post emphasised the fact Salah has had another scintillating season in front of goal, despite battling against media criticism for the majority of the season.

His teammate Dejan Lovren was quick to respond on Instagram and decided to poke Salah with a tongue-in-cheek comment.

The two have a very good relationship and this is just another example of their friendship.

Salah may not be humble but he has had another great season, even if it hasn’t been as explosive as we was during his maiden campaign on Merseyside.

That was always going to be hard to achieve, though, after what was a ridiculous first season for Liverpool for the 26-year-old.

His overall record for Liverpool is insane scoring 70 in just 103 appearances.

Lovren, on the other hand, has found his playing time reduced due to the form of Joel Matip, but he has played in 13 games and is clearly an important part of the dressing room.

Both have two weeks to rest and forget about the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League and focus on winning the Champions League.

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According to Football League World, Aston Villa are showing an interest in impressive Charlton midfielder Joe Aribo.

What’s the word?

Aribo has lit up League One this season, starring for the Addicks during their promotion charge.

The 22-year-old has been in magnificent form lately, scoring four goals in his last five matches.

His good performances have now caught the eye of one of the Championship’s leading clubs with Aston Villa monitoring the player, per Football League World.

They claim that the midfield man is set to be watched by Villa scouts when his side take on Sunderland in the play-off final this weekend.

Aribo’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and therefore, he’d be an absolute snip for the Villans.

Grealish replacement on the cards?

With Jack Grealish being the subject of interest from Tottenham and Crystal Palace, Villa could well be in the market for someone to replace him.

Considering Aribo’s output in terms of goals it would be the ideal replacement. The attacking midfielder is superb going forward, adding five assists to the ten times he’s found the back of the net.

Grealish, on the other hand, has six goals and seven assists so the similarities between the two statistically are clear to see.

The midfielder has the ability to perform in a variety of positions. As well as being able to play deeper in the middle of the park, he can feature behind the striker and also out wide, just like Grealish.

With this in mind, he’d be more than suitable should the Villa skipper depart.

His future is still very unclear but if they achieve promotion it’s more likely they’ll have a better chance of holding onto him.

That shouldn’t put Dean Smith off pursuing Aribo, however, who would add a great deal of quality to Villa’s midfield.

Costing nothing, there is certainly no risk to the deal and it would be an extremely shrewd move should the club convince the player to join.

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Everyone knows Tyrone Mings has played a huge role in Aston Villa’s incredible end to the season, but one stat reveals he might just be the most important player in the entire squad.

Villa take on Derby County at Wembley on Monday, and both teams know how to stick the ball in the back of the net.

The Villans of course have the division’s second-highest scorer in Tammy Abraham (26), while the Rams bagged four against Leeds United at Elland Road in their play-off showdown.

The big difference between the two sides however is in defence, where Dean Smith’s side have become one of the strongest units in the league since January, and it’s largely down to one man.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

On the chalkboard

Per Villa Report, Steve Bruce and then Smith’s side conceded 46 times in the first 29 matches of the Championship season, an average of 1.59 goals per game.

Since Mings arrived on loan in January, they have conceded just 16 in the 18 games he has featured in, or 0.89 per game.

The contrast between the two numbers is truly mind-blowing, and while Smith’s decision to stick with Ahmed Elmohamady and Neil Taylor at full-back has also made a difference, the arrival of Mings was the clear turning point in the season.

The 26 year-old can play anywhere across the back four, but his elite athleticism, power and ability on the ball makes him the perfect centre back, and if truth be told it’s almost looked too easy for him at times since his arrival.

Regardless of what happens on Monday, securing Mings on a permanent deal must be the first priority this summer. The season turned on January 31, and Smith now finally has the defensive solidity to accompany his rip-roaring attacking style.

There’s currently only a handful of versatile players in West Ham United, which is a fairly big reason for a system that often looked really rather clunky during Manuel Pellegrini’s first campaign.

Indeed, for any team to keep up their momentum over a whole season, they need players capable of putting in a shift in multiple roles, that much is obvious. As a result, Manuel Pellegrini is seemingly looking for such talents and has pinpointed an impressive one.

According to reports (via Football Insider), the Chilean’s aiming to raid his former team and sign Fabian Delph from champions Manchester City. Obviously, the versatile player has operated mainly as a backup left-back for the defending champions but is renowned for his role in centre-midfield, traits that’d make him a star in Stratford.

Delph works as an effective left-back, proving the reliable, defence-minded option the Hammers require. With Aaron Cresswell close (per the same outlet) to leaving and Arthur Masuaku still honing his defensive skills, the 29-year-old can slot in extremely effectively. Moreover, his natural position is centre-midfield where he works as an effective ball-winner capable of slotting in with Declan Rice or Mark Noble.

It just makes so much sense. A bit-player at the Etihad, the Irons could surely offer him a starring role.

The experienced star can bring a winning mentality to the Hammers, something that could potentially rub off on a number of teammates at the early stages of their career. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also a brilliant passer, with Pep Guardiola’s system working wonders for him.

Delph can put in extra shifts with ease and cover up the gaping holes plaguing Pellegrini’s side. The 29-year-old’s someone the Chilean can rely upon due to his defensive expertise and big-game experience. Indeed, he might not be the “superstar signing” the fans crave, but yet a highly effective destroyer to bring stability into their system.

West Ham fans, would you like a versatile player like Delph next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Today is the day that Arsenal fans have both been excited for and dreading at the same time for a while now, the Europa League final.

It is without question the club’s most important game in the past three seasons, and winning against Chelsea in Baku will set in motion a series of events that will but benefit Arsenal in the long-term. Lose, though, and the Gunners will be back to square one in their journey for a return to the Champions League.

With everyone fully fit and Unai Emery the unofficial Europa League master having won the tournament three times on the bounce with Sevilla, the odds are looking good for Arsenal, all the manager has to do know is name that perfect starting XI that will get the Gunners over the line, and that means dropping Mesut Ozil to the bench.

The German playmaker has easily had his worst ever year as an Arsenal player this season, being constantly dropped from the first-team and the squad altogether in some cases due to inconsistent performances, and on a night where the north London side simply have to win, Emery can’t risk Ozil going missing when the club needs him most.

The former Germany star who joined the club for a reported £42.4 million is no doubt one of the most talented players in the Arsenal team, but in a game as big as this where everyone has to turn up and perform, Ozil is simply too big a risk to put in the starting XI.

Arsenal fans, would you start Ozil tonight? Let us know!

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Clyde 1 Superscoreboard host Ewan Cameron has claimed Celtic manager Neil Lennon could be sacked by Christmas, speaking on Monday’s edition of the high profile radio show.

What’s he said?

There’s plenty of curiosity about the upcoming Scottish season already after the departure of Brendan Rodgers and appointment of Lennon at Celtic.

For many, it could be the kind of change that wedges the door open a little for Rangers to mount a true challenge for trophies next term.

Outspoken pundit, Chelsea flop, Celtic legend. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith throws back to Chris Sutton in the video below…

One pundit who clearly feels that way is radio host Ewan Cameron, who had plenty to say on Monday’s edition of Superscoreboard on Clyde 1.

He reckons there could be a Celtic implosion, explaining to listeners:

Celtic won’t win a treble again. That’s it, it’s gone. The treble Treble is done. It’s not going to happen. They might win a cup but they won’t win the league.

Rangers will stop them winning nine-in-a-row. I’m making that bold prediction tonight here on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.

Celtic will not win the league under Neil Lennon and I’ll tell you another thing, he might not last till Christmas.

Are Celtic at risk of collapse?

The Hoops of course can never take success for granted and to win a league you don’t just need the best players in the country but also a determination and mentality that separates you from the chasing pack.

Will next season be one of the most competitive in Scotland for years? Possibly.

Are Celtic set for a disastrous season that results in Lennon’s sacking before the new year? That’s incredibly unlikely.

Lennon’s winning record is exceptional at Celtic, in both of his spells at the club. He only lost one match when filling in for Brendan Rodgers, winning two trophies in the process. Before leaving for pastures new in 2014 he also delivered a further five trophies, including three league titles in a row.

The suggestion he is an appointment that will lead to Celtic ruin doesn’t hold much weight in the face of his record so far.

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Leicester City are a club who can’t seem to stop churning out exciting prospects from Ben Chilwell to Harvey Barnes, and another name who could be within a chance of first-team football next season is Romanian defender Alexandru Pascanu.

The 20-year-old centre-back, who can also play at right-back, has been an important figure in Leicester’s development teams for the good part of two seasons, first making a name for himself in the UEFA Youth League where he scored in the Foxes’ only win of the competition, a 3-2 win against FC Copenhagen.

Pascanu would make 30 appearances across the U-18s and U-23s that season, in doing so winning the Academy Player of the Season award for the 2016/17 campaign, and since then the elegant defender has gone from strength to strength.

The 20-year-old is yet to make his senior team debut for Leicester, so his real success has come from his performances with the Romania U-21 side, where in qualification for the upcoming U-21 Euros, he started every game for a nation that went undefeated in qualifying for the tournament.

What is even more impressive is that not only did Romania concede just four goals in the 11 games that sealed their ticket to Italy for the finals, the joint lowest of any team in qualifying, but that they finished ahead of the likes of Portugal, Switzerland and Wales, and Pascanu was one of the main reasons for this incredible accomplishment.

At 6 foot 1, Pascanu’s height doesn’t make him the tallest of central defenders, but his intelligence and control on the ball has made him such a standout performer for club and country at youth level, as well as his ability to win the ball back with pace and explosive power.

With Harry Maguire the subject of interest from some of the Premier League’s wealthiest, Brendan Rodgers could roll the dice and take a risk with Pascanu, continuing Leicester’s trend of looking from within for talent. After such a good few seasons, the Romanian defender could potentially step up to the plate.

This summer’s tournament in Italy could well be Pascanu’s opportunity to really make a name for himself and force his way into Rodgers’ consideration. But one thing is for sure, this is a talented young player Leicester fans should be keeping their eye on throughout the U21 European Championships.

[ad_pod ]Lots of West Ham fans have been reacting to West Ham telling Manchester United and Manchester City that Declan Rice is not for sale, as per Sky Sports.

The 20-year-old had been linked with a move away from the London Stadium this summer after a breakthrough season at the London Stadium which saw him also earn his first international call-up for England.

The Hammers had been linked to a number of midfielders who could have potentially ereplaced him including Franck Kessie from Milan.

But now with the news that the 20-year-old is set to stay it may be the case that the club put their money to use elsewhere.

The Irons have already signed Spaniard Pablo Fornals in the summer window and are also linked with a move for Maxi Gomez, but a deal is yet to be done.

And claret and blues fans were ecstatic after learning Rice is to stay and took to Twitter to voice their relief.

Here is just a selection of the reaction…

As a westham fan its finally good to have that feeling that we have players that teams above us want….

Its feels a whole lot better knowing that we are not forced to sell!

— Tom Holland (@happyhammer011) June 19, 2019

We have never had an asset like this. This literally means we have no idea what he could potentially be worth in the next 3-4 years, could be well over 100 mil if he continues in this way

— ⚒Forever West Ham⚒ (@Harrycass11) June 19, 2019

I love it how all their fans reckon he’s leaving ?? plus United will finish below us ?

— 父 Scott Barnard™ 父 (@barnard_15) June 19, 2019

Declan Rice is too good for these clubs. Stay with the hammers we’re winning the league didn’t ya know https://t.co/Ihqy8VIZ84

— J (@JayWHU) June 19, 2019

So happy other fan bases bar city don’t realise how good rice is

— Jamie (@JamieFC_) June 19, 2019

Next season really could be a turning point for us. Nothing is built in 1 season but give Pellegrini 2 more we’ll have an extremely good squad. Generally excited by Fornals, keeping Rice & Diop and adding a quality striker to challenge Arnie. Players fit again a new dawn awaits.

— West Ham Pub Talk (@WHUFCpubtalk) June 20, 2019