All posts by n8rngtd.top

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will surely be content with his side’s start to the season as they sit third in the table after 15 Championship matches.

The Whites have not been faultless, by any means, but they have only lost two of their league matches and are two points behind first-placed Sunderland and Sheffield United in second.

Farke’s men have also only conceded nine goals, the third-best defence in the division, and this has given them a solid platform to build from in matches.

Of course, they are still outside of the automatic promotion places and they will need to pick up more points than the Black Cats and the Blades over the coming months to ensure that they go straight up to the Premier League, rather than competing in the play-offs again.

The German boss may look to the January transfer window to bolster his side but the winter market is also an opportunity for the club to cash in on players, and there are at least three members of the squad who should be moved on, as it stands.

1

Patrick Bamford

The first player who should be ruthlessly binned from Elland Road is centre-forward Patrick Bamford, who has not done enough to warrant his reported wage of £70k-per-week.

He is reportedly the highest earner at the club and that has not been reflected in his performances on the pitch at Championship level since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

The former Middlesbrough and Chelsea man has only made six appearances in the second tier so far this season, all as a substitute, and has failed to provide a single goal, assist, or ‘big chance’ created for his team.

Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe have both been preferred ahead of the former England international as a starter in the number nine role at different points this season.

The Leeds duo have combined for eight goals and five assists in the Championship for the Whites, which suggests that they are taking their opportunities to play ahead of Bamford.

As you can see in the table above, the 31-year-old dud had plenty of chances to impress in the second tier during the 2023/24 campaign, with mixed success.

Bamford did score eight goals and provided one assist but also underperformed against his xG and missed nine ‘big chances’, which suggests that the Englishman was not a reliable goalscorer for Farke, hence why Joseph and Piroe have been preferred ahead of him.

Football Insider recently reported that the striker is planning to move on from Elland Road at the end of the season, due to a lack of game time this term, but the Whites should look to accelerate his departure and save his £70k-per-week wages by selling him in January.

2

Joe Gelhardt

The second player who should be sold by the club in the upcoming January transfer window is the rarely-seen centre-forward Joe Gelhardt.

18-year-old academy graduate Charlie Crew is the only player to have played fewer minutes (four) than the English attacker (nine) in the Championship for Leeds so far this season.

Gelhardt has been an unused substitute on seven occasions and failed to make the matchday squad six times, with his nine minutes coming in two outings off the bench.

This shows that Farke does not believe that the left-footed lightweight is ready to play regular football for the Whites at Championship level, which is concerning given that this is his second season under the German boss.

Gelhardt remained at Elland Road, instead of going out on loan, for the 2023/24 campaign, and only made ten appearances in the second tier, starting two of those games.

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old dud did not do enough with his opportunities on the pitch to show the manager that he deserved more minutes.

Therefore, it is now time for Leeds and Farke to finally cash in on the £15k-per-week forward, who has not shown enough on the pitch to suggest that he is developing and likely to play an important role for the team moving forward.

3

Junior Firpo

Finally, and potentially most controversially, Junior Firpo should be moved on in the January transfer window if an agreement cannot be reached on a new contract.

The 28-year-old star’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season and the Whites will risk losing him for nothing if they have not resolved the situation by February.

He is the second highest earner in the squad, behind Bamford, on £60k-per-week and Leeds may not want to keep him on that level of wage on a longer-term deal, in case they fail to reach the Premier League.

If that is the case, all parties are in an awkward position, and cashing in on him, despite his quality, could be the best option for Leeds in January, to avoid losing a key player on a free transfer.

The West Yorkshire outfit were recently linked with an interest in Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin, and signing a player of his ability could make the decision to sell Firpo far easier.

As you can see in the table above, the Black Cats star has outperformed the Leeds man in pretty much every defensive statistic in the Championship this season, whilst offering a similar threat in attack.

Therefore, selling Firpo and swooping to sign the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster could, potentially, improve Farke’s team, which is another reason why they should cash in on the 28-year-old.

Successfully and ruthlessly selling Bamford, Gelhardt, and Firpo would shift £135k-per-week in wages and that is money that could be used to bolster the team, possibly with the addition of Cirkin.

Leeds thought they had the next Luis Suarez, now he's in Spain's 4th tier

Leeds United may have had high hopes for the talented youngster when he arrived at Elland Road.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 14, 2024

Crystal Palace currently sit in 18th place in the Premier League on only seven points after 11 games played, winning just one game, drawing four and losing six times.

Oliver Glasner’s side is averaging 45.8% possession, the seventh lowest in the division, but have only scored eight goals, the second-fewest in the division despite taking the sixth most shots per game (14.4).

The Eagles aren’t struggling to get shots off, but evidently, the quality of shot and chances being created isn’t the best. Therefore, Glasner could be inclined to make a risky change in order to add more creative spark across the forward line.

Tthe time for that change could be now, with multiple injuries, and the suspension of Daichi Kamada, who won’t be available for their clash with Aston Villa on Saturday.

Why Kamada needs replacing

Kamada was sent off against Fulham in their 2-0 loss at Selhurst Park, receiving a straight red card for a tackle on Fulham’s Kenny Tete.

Before his dismissal, the 28-year-old had already lost possession seven times, lost four of his five ground duels, lost both of his aerial duels and was dribbled past twice.

Signed on a free transfer over the summer, Kamada has made 14 appearances for the Eagles, scoring two goals, providing two assists and totalling 853 minutes.

He has impressed on the whole but won’t be available this weekend in a big blow for Glasner and Co.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Crystal Palace's Kamada solution

Glasner may already have the perfect replacement in the pipeline, with 19-year-old Asher Agbinone, who could provide an extra spark in attack.

The 19-year-old forward has made two appearances totalling four minutes from the bench for Palace so far this season, coming on in the last two minutes against both Nottingham Forest and Fulham. Agbinone has also made five appearances for the Palace U21 side, scoring one goal across 435 minutes.

Agbinone can play as a left-winger, a right-winger, and even an attacking midfielder, with his best trait being the blistering speed the youngster possesses, which has even been mentioned by Glasner himself, saying: “he has lots of pace, he can run in behind and dribble”.

The metrics above show what Agbinone would be tasked with replacing, as Kamada has offered high levels of creativity for Palace so far this season, averaging 5.65 progressive passes, 1.88 progressive carries, 1.74 key passes, and 3.33 shot-creating actions per 90.

Agbinone could certainly bring an increased level of carrying, adding far more 1v1 threat – Kamada only averages 0.29 successful take-ons per 90 – but the question would be the level of final product from the youngster when he gets himself into the areas to deliver.

In the absence of Kamada, this could be the perfect time to unleash Agbinone, give the fans a boost by giving a deserving academy graduate significant minutes, and see if it can spark some better chance creation in the attacking third for the Eagles.

Their next Olise: Crystal Palace could have a £100m + star in the making

Crystal Palace could have their next Olise with £100m ace in the making

By
Connor Holden

Nov 16, 2024

Lamine Yamal's father has unveiled a mural depicting him alongside the Barcelona and Spain star in his house.

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• Yamal's dad revealed new mural in his house
• Shows him alongside Barcelona and Spain hero
• Teenager impressed against Benfica this week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mounir Nasraoui could hardly contain his excitement as he saw the mural after walking into the room in a video posted on Instagram. The design shows Yamal beside his dad, with both wearing tuxedos. "Like father, like son," he said to the camera.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  At just 17, Yamal has rocketed to worldwide fame with his stunning performances for club and country. After helping Spain to Euro 2024 glory, the winger has scored 12 goals and made 17 assists in 37 matches in all competitions for Barcelona.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  He played a pivotal role in their 3-1 win against Benfica in the Champions League this week, setting up the opening goal and then restoring their lead after Nicolas Otamendi's equaliser. That made him the youngest player in the history of the competition to score and assist goals in the same match.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

  The teenager will be in action again on Sunday when Hansi Flick's team take on title rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

A significant update has emerged regarding the future of a “superb” Newcastle United player, with a £115m exit now being mooted in a fresh report.

Newcastle transfer news

Lots of transfer rumours continue to arrive regarding the Magpies, with Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo linked with a big-money move to St James’ Park. Although Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles will both be back from injury soon, Eddie Howe is in need of more depth at centre-back, and the 22-year-old could be an ideal option to bring in.

Speaking of central defenders, Newcastle have even been backed to make a shock move for free agent and Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard is an undoubted icon of the game, but his best days are now behind him, so a move for a younger alternative surely makes more sense.

Meanwhile, the Magpies are reportedly in pole position to secure the signing of Hertha Berlin youngster Ibrahim Maza, with the 19-year-old considered a player for the future and someone who could come in as a solid attacking squad option.

Randal Kolo Muani has struggled to set the world alight at Paris Saint-Germain, and he is another rumoured target for Newcastle, with a loan move in the January transfer window seen as a possibility. A new striker would be ideal midway through the season amid Callum Wilson’s proneness to injury and doubts surrounding the long-term future of Alexander Isak.

Newcastle could lose "excellent" £115m star

According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have enquired about the availability of Newcastle star Isak, as they look to prise him away from St James’ amid his apparent reluctance to commit his future to the Tynesiders.

The report goes on to claim that the Magpies “would negotiate a potential transfer but only for a ‘monster offer’, with Eddie Howe’s side demanding that the bidding starts at a mammoth £115million”. Viktor Gyokeres is seen as an option to replace him, with the Sporting CP striker arguably one of Europe’s most in-form strikers.

It goes without saying that losing Isak would arguably be the biggest blow imaginable for Newcastle, with the Swede one of the Premier League’s leading attacking players.

Alan Shearer knows a thing or two about what makes a great striker, and the Magpies legend waxed lyrical over the current St James’ ace, saying: “He is just a constant threat all the time. His finishing is excellent and his penalty-taking is as good as they come. He is confident and cool and believes in everything he is doing.”

At 25, there is still so much more to come from Isak, which would make losing him even harder to accept for Newcastle, and while Gyokeres would be a great replacement – he has scored 16 goals in just 11 Primeira Liga appearances this season – keeping hold of the Sweden international is still preferable.

Newcastle actively working on deal to sign "elite" £84m player in January

Newcastle could improve their defensive options with this expensive capture.

By
Brett Worthington

Nov 24, 2024

The lure of Chelsea is obvious, considering they look more likely to offer Isak Champions League football than Newcastle, but this should act as a huge incentive for Howe’s side to enjoy a strong season and get back into Europe’s top club competition.

Allan Saint-Maximin seemingly sent a cryptic message to Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese coach dropped him from the squad for Rangers clash.

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• Saint-Maximin dropped by Mourinho
• French winger posted cryptic message on his social media
• Fenerbahce signed ex-Newcastle man on loan last summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Allan Saint-Maximin appeared to send a cryptic message to Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho after being left out of the squad for the Europa League round of 16, second-leg clash against Rangers. The French winger posted a subtle message on his Instagram account, fueling speculation about his future with the team.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Newcastle United player was signed on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli last summer, with Mourinho counting on him during the first half of the campaign. However, Saint-Maximin wasn't named in three of the last four Fenerbahce matchday squads. The latest omission, ahead of the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 against Rangers, came on the Frenchman's 28th birthday on Wednesday. Rangers won the first leg 3-1 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, with Saint-Maximin brought off the bench in the second half.

• WHAT ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN SAID

  “It will take more than that to bring me down…When lies take the elevator, truth takes the stairs; it takes longer but it always arrives in the end. If God is with us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31,” Saint-Maximin posted on Instagram (h/t Sport Witness).

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FENERBAHCE?

  Fenerbahce will travel to Scotland on Thursday, hoping to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg against Rangers. In the Turkish Super Lig, Mourinho's men are currently occupying second place on the league table, seven points behind Galatasaray, albeit with a game in hand. They will take on third-placed Samsunspor on Sunday, March 16.

Martin Odegaard's agent, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, was spotted at Anfield as Liverpool Legends locked horns with Chelsea Heroes on Saturday.

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• Liverpool hosted Chelsea in a charity match
• The Reds won 2-0 thanks to a Peter Crouch brace
• Kvarme was spotted on the bench

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kvarme’s appearance at Anfield caught the attention of Arsenal fans. Last year, Kvarme was also involved in another Liverpool Legends match, when the Reds faced Ajax in a special tribute game. That occasion was even more emotional, as it provided the late Sven-Goran Eriksson with the opportunity to fulfill his dream of managing Liverpool while bravely battling cancer.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  However, there is little to worry about for the Gunners as the 52-year-old, who played for Liverpool between 1997 and 1999, was simply returning to represent his former club in the annual LFC Foundation charity match, with the Norwegian being included on the bench for the legends' game.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Legends' game featured an impressive lineup of former Liverpool greats, including Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypiä, and Jerzy Dudek. The clash ended 2-0 in Liverpool’s favour, with former England striker Peter Crouch scoring twice. This gave him the chance to belt out his iconic robot celebration in front of the Kop. Meanwhile, Natasha Dowie became the first female footballer to feature in a Liverpool Legends match after she was introduced as a first-half substitute for Mohamed Sissoko.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  With a packed stadium, an electric atmosphere, and legendary players rolling back the years, the event proved to be another huge success. But beyond the entertainment on display, the real impact of the match was its contribution to charitable causes. The funds raised from ticket sales and donations will go toward the LFC Foundation, as well as the Chelsea FC Foundation and Chelsea Players’ Trust.

Aston Villa are now reportedly closing in on a move to sign a new attacking midfielder for Unai Emery as they look to beat several suitors to his signature in 2025.

Aston Villa looking to end slump

Aston Villa’s draw with Juventus could have been all three points if were it not for a late goal from Morgan Rogers being controversially disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

Though the point in itself was credible, it continued their winless run, which now stretches to seven games and has seen them lose four times in the last month alone and crash out of the Carabao Cup in the process.

It is yet to have a major impact on their season otherwise, with Emery’s side still only three points outside the top four in the Premier League and well-placed to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League, but should it continue, it is bound to have serious repercussions further down the line.

With tough fixtures on the horizon, they need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later, and could use the January transfer window to try and do so, with the club expected to be active mid-season to strengthen Emery’s squad.

Now, they have been tipped to complete a move to sign a new attacking midfielder.

Aston Villa "closing in" on Schmid deal

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa and Unai Emery are “closing in on a move for Werder Bremen’s Romano Schmid” ahead of the January transfer window.

Schmid is one of the hottest prospects in the Bundesliga, with CIES reporting that the Austrian has managed to create more chances this season than fellow Villa target Alex Baena and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, according to its chance creation index, which takes into account key passes, pre-assists and breaking opposition lines.

“is calculated on a scale of 100 by adding the frequency of passes leading to a goal or a clear chance, passes made to the assistman (second assist), as well as passes breaking the opposition’s defensive line received by a teammate”.

Villa’s interest in the Bremen midfielder was revealed last week, and now they could be on the verge of agreeing a move. However, it is unclear as to when the deal would be completed.

It is claimed that Villa are “set to showcase ambition in the January transfer window as Unai Emery wants to bolster his squad”, but that the Werder Sporting Director “suggested that while a deal is unlikely in January it could be an option in the summer transfer window”.

A previous report by Sky claimed that a move away from Germany could happen “by the summer at the latest”, while his £8m valuation is not thought to have put off any potential suitors for the 24-year-old.

Emery must sell Aston Villa flop who Gerrard called a "brilliant signing"

The Aston Villa midfielder should be cashed in on at the next possible opportunity.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 30, 2024

That comes with Schmid having just 18 months left to run on his £5,700-a-week deal in the Bundesliga, which is likely to see his price tag only fall in the months to come. Former Werder Bremen boss Florian Kohfeldt labelled him as “very ambitious” during his time at the club.

Aston Villa have a previous history of snapping up bargains in the January transfer window having landed Morgan Rogers for just £8m in 2023. Could they be about to do the same with another attacking midfielder?

A “top quality” England international has informed his club that he’s going to leave, as Tottenham Hotspur reach out and open talks with the player via representatives.

Ange Postecoglou holds transfer meetings with Johan Lange

Under-fire Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou and technical director Johan Lange will already have a good idea of how they best need to strengthen heading into the next two transfer windows, with the pair holding regular recruitment talks behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham open talks with 169-goal striker after Paratici recommendation

The Italian has been working as an outside advisor.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 11, 2024

Broadcast giant Sky Sports writes that Postecoglou has been involved with Lange meetings ahead of the January window, as they discuss the potential to do business mid-season, with Spurs’ head coach under mounting pressure after a dismal run of form.

Tottenham’s last 10 matches in all competitions have been inconsistent at best, with impressive wins over the likes of Aston Villa and Man City overshadowed by dismal defeats to lowly Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town – who both sealed their first league victories of the season against Spurs.

Postecoglou’s side have also squandered early two-goal leads on multiple occasions this season – firstly against Brighton in a 3-2 defeat at the Amex, and secondly against Chelsea in their 4-3 home defeat on Sunday.

Tottenham look fragile, and while you can make a serious case they’ve lost a lot of key players to injury, their season is threatening to unravel at the midway point.

Cristian Romero is reportedly set to miss six weeks after picking up a fresh problem in his quadriceps, while the likes of Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario are also out with long-term problems and won’t return until 2025.

Spurs also have to think beyond this season, and some very intriguing transfer opportunities are emerging from Ligue 1.

Both Lille striker Jonathan David and midfielder Angel Gomes are out of contract at the end of the season, giving interested Premier League sides a major chance to snap up either one of the in-form duo at zero cost.

Tottenham have already held talks with David’s camp, and now the same can be said of Three Lions midfielder Gomes.

Tottenham hold talks with Angel Gomes who's told Lille he's leaving

According to The Boot Room, Gomes has told Lille he’s leaving at the end of the season, and Tottenham have held talks with his representatives as they attempt to gauge his interest in a move to N17.

The former Man United gem was excellent for Lille last season, bagging eight assists in 31 Ligue 1 matches as a mainstay player for the French side, and former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson has urged the club to strike a bargain deal for Gomes before.

“He’s the type of quality player you want your club looking at, obviously. If there is a route back to the Premier League for him, Spurs won’t be the only suitors for him,” said Robinson to Tottenham News.

“Lee Carsley is looking more and more likely to get the England job on a permanent basis, and with that in mind, he’s going to get more minutes at international level. He’s a top-quality player.

“A move back to the Premier League won’t be out of the question. If he’s playing at the top level, you want your club to be involved in the race. He fits the mould of the type of player Spurs would sign – young, English and talented.”

Real Madrid are reportedly working on turning Kylian Mbappe into a “free-kick specialist”, as he adds another string to his goal-scoring bow.

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• Prolific forward rarely takes free-kicks
• Fired home set-piece goal in La Liga
• Blancos helping him to master that art

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The France international has been a prolific presence throughout his career without taking on set-piece duties. He can be relied upon to confidently convert penalties, but often leaves efforts outside of the box to others.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That may be about to change, with Mbappe registering the first free-kick goal of his career when firing home for Madrid in their La Liga victory over Leganes. Questions have been asked of whether said effort counts as a free-kick goal as the ball was moved in order to provide a better angle.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe is taking it, though, and intends to become a serious threat from dead-ball situations in the weeks and months ahead. Plans are being drawn up at Santiago Bernabeu to aid that cause.

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  WHAT REAL MADRID REPORTER SAID

  Journalist Jose Luis Sanchez has told : “Within the Real Madrid staff, they want Mbappe to become a specialist in free kicks. That's why they've been working with him for over a month on this type of situation, with the good result he achieved against Leganes.”

Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has been accused of failing to lose with dignity after his nose-tweaking attack on Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk.

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• Mourinho involved in clash with Buruk
• Fenerbahce boss had only just returned from ban
• Jim White and Simon Jordan debate his antics

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jose Mourinho is facing criticism after appearing to grab the nose of Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk during Fenerbahce's Turkish Cup defeat on Wednesday. The incident, which left Buruk on the ground, has further fuelled debate over the Portuguese manager's fiery temperament, and talkSPORT hosts Jim White and Simon Jordan disagreed over whether the Portuguese should even be employed after the incident.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mourinho has a long history of controversial moments throughout his career. From his infamous "Special One" declaration at Chelsea to his touchline spats with rival managers and officials, the Portuguese has often courted drama. While his supporters point to his trophy-laden CV as justification, his detractors argue his behaviour often crosses the line. Jordan and White were equally split, with the former drawing attention to Buruk's 'pathetic' reaction to his nose being pinched.

• WHAT JORDAN AND WHITE SAID

  Speaking on talkSPORT, Jim White and Simon Jordan clashed over the incident and whether Mourinho's antics should impact his future job prospects.

  White argued: "You have to lose with dignity. And he never does. You don't need to get physical, do you? On the pitch, and what might have happened if a few of those Galatasaray fans had come over the top last night in Turkey – then you've got a major incident."

  Jordan countered, arguing Mourinho's personality is part of his appeal: "I would (employ him). I’d like to think he’d behave better. I think the manager’s reaction, the manager that was on the end of Mourinho tweaking his nose, falling on the floor is pathetic. The alternative is he stands up to Mourinho and pushes him back and then you have a bigger incident. Is that preferable?

  "Mourinho shouldn’t do it, but with these characters, and he's a character, no doubt about it. Whether you like him or you don't like him, with these personalities, they are unique people, and they do things in a very different way to what most people would think is acceptable. And that has good and bad attached to it."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Fenerbahce play Trabzonspor this weekend. Mourinho, in the meantime, faces a 10-game ban.