All posts by h716a5.icu

Being known as second fiddle to Celtic in Scottish football, it has been a little trickier for Rangers to pull off some truly memorable singings in recent. However, with times constantly changing, it may be time to see just how big Rangers can go if the signs under Steven Gerrard continue to show promise. 

With the appointment of Gerrard as manager and the real strides forward that the club have made, there is no doubt that it is an exciting time to be a Gers fan.

Yes, there’s a rebuilding project in place at Ibrox but the recent additions of Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis hint at more ambition behind the scenes. If the Light Blues can continue to add pretty big names, as well as some more astute additions, the famous 55 may be coming home.

With that in mind, here’s a couple of men that have been brought in over the last few years to get them back and challenging at the top:

Scott Arfield 

Not having the most illustrious career under his belt, many had wondered just what the 30-year-old will bring to the new Gerrard era at the Ibrox.

However, he has hit the ground running for Rangers, becoming one of the starting names on the matchday squad. Bringing an unexpected turn of pace, and an eye for a pass on goal, the midfielder has proven that he has what it takes to help push them over that line in the coming seasons.

Arfield is yet another free, yes FREE transfer, coming into the Scottish Premiership, proving that Rangers know exactly what they’re doing when it comes down to finding cheap talent.

Martyn Waghorn 

Martyn Waghorn is certainly a player that will be remembered at Ibrox. Joining back in 2015 for a fairly substantial fee at the time, there must have been speculation mounting as to whether a Premier League reject could hack it in the depths of the Scottish Championship.

Well, as much as there were speculation, there were goals.

Scoring a total of 28 goals in all competitions in his maiden season, also helping win promotion for Rangers, he truly showed that he was worth every penny.

What could have been if he were still there now?

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Arsenal are lining up a summer bid for Argentina international Walter Kannemann, per the Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old has won three caps for his country since making his debut in September 2018.

What’s the word?

Gunners boss Unai Emery is reportedly keen to bolster his defence this summer.

And the Mail report that the Gremio star, who plays as a left-sided centre-back, has a £10.2million release clause in his contract.

A number of South American sides, including Boca Juniors and Independiente, are also said to be interested but they will struggle to trigger his release clause.

The Gunners, however, should have no such trouble.

Emery is aware that Laurent Koscielny will turn 34 in September, while Shkodran Mustafi has endured a torrid season in terms of his performances.

Kannemann can also play as a left-back but has never played in Europe, starting his career with Argentine club San Lorenzo, before a move to Mexican side Atlas and then, most recently, to Brazilian outfit Gremio.

An untested talent

This is a risk for Arsenal.

Kannemann would clearly come in to replace Koscielny, who, while still a quality defender, is beginning to show signs of ageing.

However, it is rare that players signed from South America instantly adapt to life in Europe and there may well be a bedding-in period.

That is not what the Gunners need; they would be well advised to instead hunt for an assured, experienced centre-back with European pedigree.

While his scouts will surely be doing their homework, Emery could very easily end up with another Mustafi on his books if he is not careful.

Spurs fans may already be crying out for the summer transfer window after their recent collapse in the Premier League, but with Daniel Levy calling the shots there’s no guarantee they’ll spend.

The North London club remain in a promising position in the race for a top four spot but things would be a whole lot better right now if Mauricio Pochettino’s side hadn’t suffered a dip in form prior to the international break.

Of course, one area that requires improving in the summer transfer window is out wide as the likes of Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min are the only two natural wingers in the side.

Interestingly, it appears as if the Lilywhites already have their eyes on a possible summer swoop, as according to Marca (via Sport Witness), Barcelona have slapped a €70 million (£60 million) asking price on Malcom and the article also references Spurs’ interest in the Brazilian.

It’s safe to say that the Brazilian, who is valued at £36 million (by Transfermarkt), isn’t even worth half the reported £60 million fee as he’s completely flopped since moving to Spain, having made just 15 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season.

Spurs fans will agree that Lamela has been hit-and-miss this season and he’s had his fair share of critics at times, but even the Argentine is better than Malcom. He’s managed to feature in 31 games in all competitions, producing six goals and three assists, so it’s safe to say that Spurs should drop their reported interest in Malcom immediately.

Tottenham Hotspur fans, surely £60 million for the Brazilian must be some kind of joke? Join the discussion by commenting down below!

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are still incensed with the EFL despite Pablo Hernandez earning a spot in Team of the Week.

Hernandez netted a brace to rescue victory for Leeds against Millwall on Saturday which was enough to earn him a spot in this week’s team.

Leeds fans are still furious about the fact Hernandez didn’t make the Team of the Season which was announced by the EFL late last month.

The Spaniard was overlooked in favour of Jarrod Bowen, Oliver Norwood and Leeds teammate Kalvin Phillips but Leeds fans haven’t stopped vocalising their outrage at his omission.

Hernandez has scored 12 and provided 11 assists in the Championship this season as Leeds look for a return to the Premier League after a 15-year absence.

Rather than being happy that their man was included in EFL’s latest edition of Team of the Week, Leeds fans took this opportunity to remind the league that they forgot to put him in the more prestigious Team of the Season.

Here’s what Leeds fans had to say on Twitter…

Middlesbrough flopped in their must-win game against Bristol City at the Riverside last night, going down 1-0 to extend their losing run to five games, and fans were not happy.

While many vented their anger on social media towards manager Tony Pulis, others were pointing the finger at their goal-shy players.

Sky Sports reporter, Keith Downie, posted a tweet having asked Pulis about his future, to which the manager was non-commital, claiming the club will make that decision.

Pulis will never be a tactician that pleases all football fans, his direct approach is not pretty, but can be effective, but when it is neither, fans will demand a change.

That said, the players need to take a large portion of the blame.

Boro’ had 23 attempts at goal last night, seven of which were on target. A failure to score from that amount of chances is not the fault of the manager.

Of course, it is the manager that picks the team and effects change during a game, so in that respect, it is fair that the blame is shared between them.

Here are some of the reactions from fans:

So as you can see, blame is mixed, but they are all united in their frustration and anger at the current run, and who can blame them?

What do you think if Boro’s season imploding? Who is to blame, the manager, or the players? You tell us and join the conversation…

Steven Gerrard’s admission that Rangers will not be in a position to sign winger Ryan Kent from Liverpool on a permanent basis is a blow for fans, who have taken the player to their hearts.

Gerrard did also say he hopes to persuade the Merseyside giants to let the 22-year-old continue has development at Ibrox for another year, and with his contacts at Anfield, it is always a possibility.

But it remains to be seen whether it will be a viable option, with Liverpool possibly wanting him to be loaned out to an English Premier League or Championship side next term.

But all is not lost for Rangers, and should Kent not return to Glasgow next season, they may have a ready-made replacement for him at the club already.

Glenn Middleton, the 19-year-old sensation, has been in fine form for Graeme Murty’s reserve side this season, and having had a taste of first team action at the start of the season, it may be time for the teenager to get an opportunity again.

Middleton scored twice for Murty’s second string side, in their 3-2 win over Hibs yesterday — one of which was a superb curling strike — and his all-round display was top drawer.

The Northampton-born player (who is valued at £135k by Transfermarkt) never looked out of place when he was given an opportunity at the start of the season, which saw him score goals in the league, League Cup and Europa League, and is a hot prospect for the Ibrox club.

With only five games of the season remaining, and Rangers having an eight point cushion to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, in third and fourth respectively, it could be the perfect time to slip Middleton back into the first team fold, and give him a run of games.

The extra experience would be invaluable for the player, and should he look the part, he could become a regular next season — whether Kent returns or not.

It is a move that could save Dave King and Rangers money, and would allow Gerrard to use his limited budget to strengthen other areas.

It seems like a logical choice to bring him into the side, but whether Gerrard chooses to do so with Rangers’ reserves now in the mix to topple Celtic, and win the reserve league, is another story.

Do you think Middleton could be the answer if Kent does not return? Would you give him a run in the side for the remainder of the season? Let us know your thoughts…

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In sizzling form, Marco Silva’s Everton make the trip to face Scott Parker’s relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage this weekend –  and victory can help to prove that the team really are the best of the rest in the Premier League.

The likelihood of three points

Even the most pessimistic of Toffees would be willing to admit that the likelihood of another three points on Saturday afternoon is very high indeed.

The Royal Blues have looked like world-beaters in their last three matches – dispatching of Chelsea at Goodison Park, West Ham United away and then Arsenal on home turf.

This unlikely run has not only cooled the heat on their new manager but also thrust them firmly back into the race for seventh place and to be the best of the rest in the English top-flight.

However, it’s not just the fact that maximum points on the banks of the river Thames could take them above Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City and into seventh that means a triumph would be a big statement to all the other Premier League sides vying for what could be the final European spot.

How a victory can send a big message to Leicester, Watford, Wolves and co

As aforementioned, Silva’s men enter this weekend on the back of two fairly recent “Big Six” scalps but to be the best of the rest, you have to be able to beat the teams around and below you as well.

That has been the big problem for the sides battling it out for sixth place in 2018/2019, starting with the Blue Half of Merseyside themselves.

They’ve gotten Premier League results out of the likes of the Gunners, the Blues and bitter rivals Liverpool, but been bested by teams such as Newcastle United, Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion.

It’s been no different for eighth-placed Wolves as they’ve taken three points from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, coupled with an embarrassing home loss to rock-bottom Huddersfield Town and away defeat at Cardiff.

By winning on Saturday, the Toffees would be showing they can be consistent against the smaller outfits as well as upsetting the bigger ones, thus staking a late claim for that all-important seventh position with the likes of Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as Manchester United and Tottenham, still to play.

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Arsenal take on Napoli on Thursday evening.

The Gunners take a 2-0 lead to Italy as they look to qualify for the Europa League semi-finals.

Unai Emery has been ebullient in his pre-match statements, insisting, per the Daily Telegraph, that they will attack the Serie A club in the Stadio San Paolo.

He said: “We want to play tomorrow thinking to win, thinking to score, thinking to push, thinking to stop them. Thinking also tactically to be together and thinking when we have the space, to attack the space.

“They have a lot of players with a big quality to push against us and give us a lot of problems but we also have the players to fight against them with our quality.”

There is a likelihood, then, that there will be no shortage of firepower on the pitch when the game kicks off.

Football FanCast has taken a look at the possible XI Emery could pick.

This is a bold selection, with only five players – Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – retaining their places in the XI from the Watford win.

Petr Cech, of course, has played in each knockout game for the Gunners in the Europa League, and kept a clean sheet in the first leg. He is likely to replace Bernd Leno.

Both Shkodran Mustafi and Konstantinos Mavropanos should drop out, with Sokratis drafted into a back three.

Utilising wing-backs adds an extra dimension to the club’s attack, with Mesut Ozil charged with supplying the chances to both Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

It is very much a win or bust XI, but it could well pay off for the risk-taking Emery…

Tottenham Hotspur managed to secure a vital three points last night against Brighton and Hove Albion, but it wasn’t a straight forward win as Christian Eriksen had to save the day late on. 

Spurs are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements in the summer transfer window with Fernando Llorente’s contract set to run out in the summer transfer window and Vincent Janssen struggling.

However, Mauricio Pochettino may have already found an attacker who could come into the first team ranks next season in the form of 17-year-old Troy Parrott.

The youngster has made a name for himself in the youth ranks, producing 16 goals in 23 games, including 13 goals in eight games in the U18 Premier League. It’s clear to see he can score goals and Harry Winks is a prime example of how well young players can turn out to be in the Premier League, so Pochettino should take a gamble.

Indeed, the Argentine has a good track record of developing younger players into stars in the first team ranks, so perhaps the Irishman could be the next player to make moves in north London.

He’s quick on the ball, loves to drive at players and has the finishing ability to punish the opposition in the final third. Spurs really do have a special talent on their hands and next season could be when Spurs fans finally get to witness him on a regular basis, which could benefit Harry Kane.

And, more importantly, making use of him next season could save Daniel Levy millions in the summer transfer window as he won’t have to go out and spend a large amount of money on a striker.

Tottenham Hotspur fans, would you like to see Parrott in the first team ranks next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Nottingham Forest fans will be hugely disappointed at how their season has petered out, but one positive is the revelation that Joao Carvalho is capable of being their next star! Indeed, he now requires more chance to prove what he can do.

He’s played 36 times in the Championship this season, making seven assists and scoring four goals. He’s been given a great run in the team and all credit to Martin O’Neill for presenting him with that opportunity.

Now, he needs the same next term.

He impressed again in Forest’s 3-0 win against Middlesbrough on Easter Monday. And then some. A result that ended the club’s run of four straight defeats and Carvalho was key until he was subbed off.

With that in mind, next season’s starting 11 should be built around him.

At only 22-years-old, he’s shown magnificent maturity to play at such a big club under such pressure. He’s proved he has the quality to become their main man if he’s given the time to grown into the number 10 role and to fulfil his potential.

The club will look to go one step forward next campaign and continue their early season form into the second half. The play-offs are a minimum requirement for the club and Carvalho has the speed and trickery to guide them there.

There’s no need for Forest to look anywhere else for a number 10 when they have one right in front of them. This season he’s proved he’s capable, and next season’s he’ll be crucial in their bid for promotion.

Forest fans, what have you thought of Joao Carvalho this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…