All posts by n8rngtd.top

Loads of Everton fans are raving at an Easter message sent by the Chief Executive Officer of the Toffees Denise Barrett-Baxendale after it was shared on the Merseyside club’s official Twitter page.

The CEO touched upon plenty of subjects as she wished to share her thoughts with Evertonians amidst what is going on in the footballing world at the moment.

She explains that Easter is a time to be together with friends and family but under these unusual circumstances, this is unfortunately not the case for many supporters. In doing so, she referred to a hat-trick scored on Easter Monday by former Blue 4-0 thumping of Manchester United in the Premier League on Easter Sunday of last year.

She also admitted that any thoughts on the beautiful game come secondary to what is going on currently that means that many people are self-isolating and NHS staff are working as hard as they can. ‘Denise’ as she signs the message off with finally thanked everybody who donated to the Blue Family charity in addition to everyone in the Everton community.

You can read the full message on the club’s official website. These fans showed their appreciation for their CEO:

Everton fans, what do you think of your CEO? Comment below!

Liverpool were all but Premier League champions before the current pandemic reared its ugly head.

The Reds were a huge 25 points clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City behind in a very distant second. They were actually just two wins and six points from confirming the title, but that has since been at the very least delayed as it remains unclear when football will be able to return in the United Kingdom.

There had been rumours the season could be null and voided, but the Anfield outfit may have just been handed some fantastic news. UEFA have said that next season’s Champions League spots should be awarded on sporting merit, which would effectively mean that league seasons across the continent could not cancelled before they are completed.

This could very well guarantee that the Reds are crowned champions of England, and it has delighted the club’s supporters. They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

A post by a fan page on Twitter has got West Ham fans debating over who the best tackler they have seen at the club is, and a lot are suggesting it is Scott Parker.

The central defensive midfielder made 129 appearances for the East London side, managing to pick up 12 goals and 11 assists along the way, per Transfermarkt, from 2007 to 2011.

However it might be quite surprising that the player still receives such appreciation from West Ham supporters, considering he left the club for bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in August 2011 for £5.18 million.

Looking at his last two campaigns at the East London club, which are available on WhoScored, you can see why fans believe he is one of the best if not the best tackler to have played at the club as he averaged 3.3 tackles a game in the 2009/10 campaign and then bettered that the season after by averaging 3.8 tackles per match.

It was a big part of his game, and his tenaciousness did not go unnoticed as the former Premier League winner, via Transfermarkt, made 18 appearances for the Three Lions in his career.

Here is what fans had to say following the post:

West Ham fans, is Parker a West Ham legend? Comment below!

Two years after first being charged by the Scottish FA for alleged breaches of rules over the granting of a UEFA licence, Rangers can finally move on.The Gers were accused of not “behaving towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith” in regards to financial information the club had given prior their financial collapse back in 2012.

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But the Ibrox side successfully argued for the case to be dealt with by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and now, the Scottish FA has confirmed that they have decided not to refer a notice of complaint to the CAS.

The governing body said: “Following consideration of the implications of such a referral, including legal opinion, it was the board’s unanimous position that this matter should not be referred to CAS.”

And after hearing about the news, Rangers fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

QPR could face a battle to keep hold of one of their standout performers from this season, with reports of interest from Turkey in Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Turkish media outlet Haber Gobal reported that Fenerbahce are targeting the winger with an eye to a possible summer move, with the 22-year-old apparently keen on trying his luck in Istanbul.

However, there are potential complications to the proposed deal, mainly the inability of the concerned parties engaging in direct communication due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

Osayi-Samuel has enjoyed a fine season at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with six goals and eight assists to his name from 32 appearances. He had been delivering standout performances prior to the campaign being halted in March, with three assists in QPR’s last two matches, while according to WhoScored he has the fourth-highest overall average match rating for 2019/20 among Mark Warburton’s squad.

The right winger has stood out with his dribbling ability during the season, recording an excellent match average of 2.8 successful dribbles and frequently displaying an aptitude for taking on and beating opposition defences.

His tally of six goals is the fourth highest in the squad while he is the Hoops’ joint-leading assists provider (as per TransferMarkt), therefore highlighting the importance of his attacking contributions to the team.

Losing Osayi-Samuel to Fenerbahce would not only deprive the R’s of a key attacking outlet; it would also leave Warburton with no natural right winger and no obvious replacement.

Marc Pugh, Olamide Shodipo and Paul Smyth can all play on the right, but the former two have rarely featured in that position and will both be out of contract at the end of this month, while the Northern Ireland native has been on loan at Wycombe this season and therefore might not be the manager’s preferred option to start regularly on the right.

While it could be a challenge for Warburton to dissuade Osayi-Samuel from leaving QPR if the winger wants to move to Turkey, the manager must not let him slip through the net too easily, especially with a lack of discernible alternatives.

Unless the R’s can be sure of adequately replacing the 22-year-old, they need to do everything in their power to get him to stay for at least another season.

QPR fans, how big a loss would Osayi-Samuel be if he moves to Fenerbahce? Comment below with your views!

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked to Ryan Fraser for a very long time. 

Last month, The Daily Star revealed Tottenham are leading the race to sign the Bournemouth ace, amid interest from Arsenal. Now, Danny Mills has claimed he can see Fraser moving to Spurs in the summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Manchester City defender insisted the Scottish international has “a lot of technical ability” to become a top-class signing for the Lilywhites.

According to Sky Sports, Fraser has declined to sign an extension with the Cherries, while his teammates Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have all agreed short-term deals.

The outlet reported earlier this week that the winger may have already agreed terms with an unnamed Premier League club.

Mills told Football Insider “I think he [Fraser] could make an impact. I think he has all the potential, and I think he would learn an awful lot at Tottenham with better players. I still think Mourinho is an exceptional coach.

“Fraser has great fitness levels, great energy, and he’s got a lot of technical ability as well. If you put that into a team where the players of a higher calibre, where he’s possibly going to get more of the ball more often, I think that would make him a better player.

“If you’ve got ability and you are willing to work your socks off, then you have a chance without a doubt. I can see that move happening.”

It is difficult to disagree with Mills on this one, as Jose Mourinho has identified Fraser at the top of his summer shortlist.

While the £15.75m-valued Scotsman has struggled for consistency this season, as he has provided a goal and four assists so far, it is worth remembering he scored seven goals and created 14 assists in the Premier League last season, a tally only beaten by none other than former Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard.

Eddie Howe has made it clear the speedster won’t play for the club again, and he will become a free agent when his contract runs out, which has paved the way for Daniel Levy to make a move.

He may be tempted to link up with Mourinho, who has won numerous accolades, including the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

Furthermore, Fraser has proven to be extremely reliable, as he last sustained an injury back in 2015.

Mourinho has been plagued by a number of injuries to his wide options. Both Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn have only recently returned from a spell on the sidelines, and the Scottish ace is more than capable of providing cover for the forwards.

Although there is no guarantee he will be an immediate success, Spurs will have gained a valuable asset for no extra cost if the transfer goes through, and he could turn out to be a shrewd investment in the future.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Ryan Fraser in the summer? Let us know down below!

Brighton should forget about signing Adam Lallana and instead try to lure Todd Cantwell to the Amex Stadium this summer.

That is according to journalist Joe Donnohue, who argued in a piece for Sussex Live that the Norwich winger would be a far more appetising transfer coup for the Seagulls than the Liverpool midfielder, who was recently been tipped for a move to Graham Potter’s aside (as per Sussex Live).

Donnohue wrote: “Financially, Brighton will be constrained by the implications of the season hiatus and ongoing crisis this summer, but Cantwell is unlikely to cost an exorbitant sum, nor will Norwich be able to demand such a fee.

“He would also make more sense than Adam Lallana, who Albion have also been linked with. Cantwell fits Potter’s project better in terms of age and profile, and his wages would no doubt be less, even taking into account a fee involved.

“It is a transfer which makes sense for both player and club – Cantwell has outgrown Norfolk in one short season in the top flight. Right now, perhaps he needs to bring his nonchalant surfer aesthetic to the south coast.”

Donnohue makes some fair points in his arguments for prioritising Cantwell over Lallana. The Norwich winger is only 22 and therefore still has ample time to develop even further over the next few years. He has also been a rare shining light in a dismal season for the relegated Canaries, scoring seven times for Daniel Farke’s side.

Lallana, meanwhile, is 32 and has played very little football for Liverpool over the last three years, while he may indeed require a significant wage decrease if he moves to Brighton – he reportedly earns £110,000 per week on Merseyside (as per Sussex Live), more than double the £50,000-a-week of the Seagulls’ highest earners Pascal Gross, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Martin Montoya (as per Spotrac).

However, the ex-England midfielder would be available on a free transfer and could also bring the experience of winning the Premier League and Champions League to the Amex, while he may be open to taking a wage decrease in order to obtain more regular game-time at Brighton.

Also, while Cantwell may have had a good season, his goals have dried up in 2020 – his last league goal came on New Year’s Day, being unable to add to his tally as Norwich’s results deteriorated since the restart last month, culminating in their meek relegation.

The 22-year-old could also come at a cost – he is valued at £18m by TransferMarkt but the Canaries may try to hold out for more than that. Cantwell may not be strictly guaranteed a first team place at the Amex, either, with fellow left winger Leandro Trossard currently in better form (two goals in his last four games) and netting five for the season so far.

If Brighton are able to get both Cantwell and Lallana in this summer, it would represent an excellent double coup. However, the Liverpool man ought not to be completely overlooked in favour of Norwich’s talented yet currently out-of-form winger.

Brighton fans, do you agree with Donnohue’s verdict that the Seagulls should go for Cantwell and forget Lallana? Have your say by commenting below!

Key information about Macron Stadium

Macron Stadium, or the University of Bolton Stadium as it is now known, was built in 1997 and houses League One’s Bolton Wanderers. The ground is located in Horwich in Greater Manchester, around five miles outside of Bolton town centre.

Its current capacity is 28,723 and it has a pitch that measures 105m by 68m. The surface of the pitch is also covered with Desso GrassMaster’s hybrid turf and it has undersoil heating installed with no running track surrounding it.

The record attendance of 28,353 spectators at the Macron Stadium was set on 28 December 2003 when Bolton faced Leicester City in the Premier League.

A history of Macron Stadium

Macron Stadium has been the home of Bolton Wanderers ever since it was built and then opened back in August 1997. Prior to that, they were playing their football at Burnden Park but the ground was already quite dilapidated and simply outdated by that point and the club had to move away from it.

Following the Taylor Report that stated all stadiums in the top two tiers of English football had to be all-seaters, and with Bolton aiming for a promotion from the Third Division, a decision to vacate Burnden Park was made by 1995. Two years later, everything was already set and they could start life anew at Macron Stadium, or rather at Reebok Stadium as it was called back then due to sponsorship reasons.

The first game ever to be played at the ground was a Premiership clash against Everton on 1 September 1997 (0-0). Unfortunately, the game would later be known for all the wrong reasons, despair and controversy due to some refereeing decisions that went the visitors’ way, ultimately becoming a deciding factor in Bolton’s eventual relegation on goal difference come the end of the season.

When it first opened, Macron Stadium had a capacity of 28,723 and that figure holds true to this day. However, the name Reebok Stadium didn’t stick as the fans thought it was too impersonal and that the club only focused on the money. Still, even though it grew on them, the name changed to Macron Stadium in 2014 when Bolton signed a new deal with the Italian company Macron.

At the end of that four-year deal with the Italian sportswear brand, the stadium name was changed once again, this time to be called the University of Bolton Stadium from 2018 onwards as a result of their new partnership with the said University. Interestingly enough, since it was built with the Taylor Report already in mind, the Macron Stadium is an all-seater and is one of the first modern stadiums in the country.

Apart from football, Macron Stadium also hosted concerts, rugby matches, boxing matches, darts competitions and much, much more. It would also host European and international clashes on some occasions.

Tickets to watch Bolton Wanderers at Macron Stadium

All tickets to watch Bolton Wanderers play at Macron Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The price will vary depending on the age group and the category chosen but the average cost of an adult ticket is between £22 and £35.

The club also offers a season ticket scheme as well as memberships that can get you discounts on every purchase. More information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Bolton Wanderers

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/club/stadium-history/ – The history of Macron Stadium

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/tickets/ – Bolton Wanderers Ticket Office

Tottenham Hotspur are in danger of missing out on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as Everton are in ‘pole position’ to sign him from Southampton this summer, according to the Daily Mail.  

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho insists that the 33-cap Denmark international is the signing he needs to rebuild Spurs before the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season. The Lilywhites were reportedly leading the race to sign Mourinho’s top transfer target in the summer but that no longer appears to be the case.

Contrary to some reports, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is firmly at the front of the queue after the Saints accepted a £25m bid from the Toffees last week.

The Danish midfielder does not lack ambition, as he wants to take a step up to elite European level. He has admitted that he wants to win the Champions League and Premier League, and he believes that Mourinho is the better option.

The 24-year-old has informed the Saints he will not sign a new deal at St Mary’s and he was subsequently stripped of the captaincy by Ralph Hasenhuttl, replaced as holder of the armband by England international James Ward-Prowse.

Although Hojbjerg favours a move to north London over Merseyside, the decision is ultimately out of his control. Managed by his former boss Pep Guardiola, Manchester City is another possible destination, while Eredivisie champions Ajax are closely monitoring the ongoing situation.

Spurs have offered £15m for the ex-Bayern Munich ace but this has fallen short of Southampton’s estimations.

Hojbjerg’s statistics don’t paint the full picture. For instance, the fact that he has failed to find the back of the net in the Premier League this season belies his work-rate on-and-off the ball. Paying close attention to the finer details, he takes 72 touches per match on average to keep the game flowing and wins 54% of his total duels (via SofaScore).

While Hojbjerg perhaps does not possess the flair of an attacking midfielder like Philippe Coutinho, he is a hard-working valuable asset to any team for which he plays, which explains why there is so much interest in a player who is the same age as Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.

Mourinho is looking to make amends after last year’s Champions League runners-up clinched a place in the Europa League on the final day of the Premier League season. It will be a tough pill for the Portuguese to swallow if Daniel Levy fails to sign Hojbjerg this summer, as he has been pursuing him for several months.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy will sign Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know your views in the comments below!

The future of Rangers superstar Alfredo Morelos has been under a question mark for quite some time now as recent reports suggested he might be packing his bags for Ligue 1 in the ongoing summer transfer window.

Of course, this would’ve been a huge blow for Steven Gerrard’s squad, seeing how instrumental he’s been for their campaign. Still, according to the latest update from Daily Record, Morelos is set to stay at Ibrox despite strong links with Lille.

The two parties have apparently agreed terms for his potential switch but the French outfit has now opted against going through with the deal as they are on the brink of finalising the transfer of Gent’s Jonathan David for £27m instead.

Morelos was happy to join Lille but Rangers were the ones blocking the transfer as they believed an offer of £17m – which is reportedly what the French team had offered them – just wasn’t enough for them to part with their prized asset.

Of course, with his ever-growing popularity, the Colombian forward is attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League as well but, as Daily Record explain, he is still committed to the Scottish Premiership titans and will gladly continue at Ibrox.

Either way, it will be interesting to see whether Gerrard can fend off all the inquiries as his in-demand player continues turning heads from abroad. Rangers have secured the signings of Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe but retaining Morelos is a huge boost for them going into the season.

Verdict

Needless to say, losing Morelos would’ve been a big blow for Rangers but alas, it seems that the Colombian is set to stay at Ibrox for a while longer. This, without a doubt, will come as a relief to Gerrard for the time being.

But the transfer window is still open and we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for the coveted forward.