Category Uncategorized

Next weekend, Barcelona are travelling away to Sevilla and to Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium for an often tricky fixture.

But it seems that a game that was already bound to be rather difficult just became even worse.

The news has broken that Mateu Lahoz will be officiating that clash between the two big Spanish teams, and it instantly ruined the day of many Barca fans.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Last time these two sides faced off with Lahoz blowing the whistle, the game ended 4-2 in Barcelona’s favour but the referee was throwing out cards for fun – seven in total.

Many of the Blaugrana fans seem to believe he will be their downfall in next weekend’s match and some seem to be pretty sure that Barcelona will, in fact, drop points against Sevilla.

One fan was even asking for the game to be forfeited since he can’t see his team winning it now that Lahoz is in charge.

You can see some of their reactions down in the tweets below:

[ad_pod ]

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have a budget of £20m+ to sign a new centre-forward during the January transfer window.

Following last week’s goalless draw with West Ham United at Villa Park, a number of the club’s fans admitted that they were concerned about a lack of goals in the team.

According to Football Insider, despite spending heavily during the summer transfer window, last season’s Championship playoff winners are ready to pay more than £20m to sign a new striker at the start of 2020.

Heading into Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, Villa had only managed four goals in five games at the start of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

A number of the club’s fans have been on social media offering their views on the transfer claim – and it would be fair to say that there are a lot of mixed opinions on the subject.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Rafa Benitez has picked out one current Liverpool player he wishes he could have had in his 2008/09 title-chasing team, and it may be a surprising choice for some.

What’s been said?

Benitez admits that the level of the current Liverpool squad is above any team he managed whilst at Anfield, as last season’s points tally of 97 indicates, although like Jurgen Klopp the Spaniard did lead the club to a second-place finish and a Champions League trophy, albeit not in the same season.

Liverpool finished four points short of Manchester United’s 90 point total in 2009 despite beating the Red Devils home and away.

Interestingly, despite only conceding 27 goals in the Premier League that season, Benitez picked out a defender when asked which player he would take from the current Liverpool side.

In a Q&A for The Athletic, he said: “Van Dijk, he would help. Not because the others are not good enough but because in this position he is maybe the best at the moment.

“We had [Fernando] Torres and [Steven] Gerrard so we had lots of good attacking players, but as centre backs, although I was really pleased with my players, Van Dijk is maybe playing at another level now.”

It is a more understandable choice when one considers Liverpool finished as the league’s highest goal-scorers that year with 77 goals but drew 11 times that season, including games against Wigan away and Hull at home.

Has Benitez made the correct choice?

Benitez has built up a reputation in England as being a defensive-minded manager, but in each of his six seasons in charge on Merseyside Liverpool never conceded the least of any team, and therefore van Dijk seems like a suitable option for the 59-year-old to pick.

The Dutchman has not only improved the current Liverpool defence but he has been a great leader for the squad, and as soon as he arrived Liverpool’s attitude and performances became that of a top-level team, as evidenced by their achievements last season.

Check out fan reaction to Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal in the video below…

In 2008/09 Liverpool had a similar figure in Jamie Carragher, who featured in every league match, but Benitez lacked a reliable partner to play alongside him – with Sami Hyppia and Daniel Agger rotating – and that is where a player such as van Dijk would have benefited the team.

Despite that, it is impossible to ignore the impact a player like Mo Salah would likely have had on that Liverpool side – the threat last season’s joint-Golden Boot winner would have provided from the wing would likely have given Liverpool the extra edge they needed to find those four points to win the title.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to Sky Sports, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the side’s renewed energy and focused attitude has been their biggest change from last season.

What did he say?

The Red Devils kicked off the Premier League campaign in emphatic fashion by thumping rivals Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford, and also enjoyed a perfect set of results in pre-season, although Monday night saw them only manage a draw against Wolves at Molineux.

Now, Solskjaer has suggested the side’s off-the-ball work is a major barometer of their improvement from last season.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He said: “I know physical stats are not a lot to go from but there is a shift from this first league game and the Chelsea match three games from the end of last season. How much more we run now compared to then is encouraging. We’ve got energy, it’s still early doors, and we’re working hard on fitness still.

“The players have a chance every day to prove you should be part of this exciting future, and to be part of this club you have to give everything. The attitude of every single one of the lads this season has been spot on. That’s been maybe the most encouraging part for me.”

Culture change

What Solskjaer alludes to is something United needed to have addressed in the aftermath of Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Attitude. High-profile stars like Alexis Sanchez and Angel Di Maria, amongst others, joined the Red Devils in high-profile deals and flattered to deceive.

The Manchester side’s summer work in bringing in the likes of Daniel James, Aaron-Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire has gone a long way in trying to introduce a greater harmony in the squad by finding young players who are hungry for the shirt.

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

More than anything, what United simply need is a set of players who are willing to fight for the badge. Solskjaer’s intent on pressing from the front and winning the ball back as quickly as possible is predicated on his team embracing a philosophy of working hard.

And while some may question how much that was on show in the second half against Wolves, when United took their foot off the gas after taking a 27th-minute lead, it shouldn’t be forgotten that they lost this same fixture twice, to scorelines of 2-1, in the first half of 2019. Clearly, there has been improvement.

[ad_pod ]

The excitement is starting to build among the Tottenham Hotspur faithful after new signing Giovani Lo Celso started training with his new teammates.

The Argentine joined Spurs from La Liga side Real Betis on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £60m if the club qualifies for the Champions League.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign with the Spanish side as he scored 16 goals and assisted a further six in all competitions.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side face reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday after a 3-1 win over Premier League newcomers Aston Villa.

Harry Kane and new signing Tanguy Ndombele scored the goals as the North London side came back from 1-0 down to snatch victory.

Fans couldn’t help but get excited over Lo Celso’s training video, with some wanting to see him play on Saturday versus Pep Guardiola’s side.

Here is a selection of tweets following the release of the video:

[ad_pod ]According to Alfredo Pedulla, Tottenham could part with €27m (£24.2m) plus Toby Alderweireld in order to land Italian wonderkid Nicolo Zaniolo.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the north London outfit are seemingly keen to land the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who scored six goals last season including two strikes in the Champions League.

Zaniolo is a 6 foot 3 powerhouse of a player who also possesses real guile and composure, shown by one goal that he scored last term which highlighted his immense talent.

The report states that Spurs are willing to include Alderweireld in the deal, which seems crazy at first given the fact that the Belgium international is a key player.

Before Tanguy Ndombele, Spurs fans haven’t been able to vlog about a transfer since January 2018! Judging by the video below, it’s been worth the wait…

However, the Champions League finalists may be wary of Alderweireld’s £25m release clause being triggered this summer, so by offering him in a player-plus-cash deal, they would at least be getting something extra in return in Zaniolo.

Player-plus-cash deal is a genius move

If Spurs pull this deal off, it would arguably be the smartest transfer move this summer. It would be a real shrewd move, and would display an extremely sustainable method of business.

Alderweireld, as good as he is, will be 31 next March and his market value and potentially his form too will drop with age.

To swap a player nearing his sell-by date for a gem of a footballer who could become one of the stars of the next generation seems like a no-brainer for Tottenham, and it really should be just that.

Spurs have ample cover at centre-back in the shape of Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth, whilst Eric Dier can also play there, so losing Alderweireld wouldn’t hurt too much – the arrival of Zaniolo in exchange would also soften the blow significantly.

They would be getting a player a whole decade younger for a relative snip in the modern market, whilst only losing a player who they will have to replace in a few years anyway.

أحرز النجم المصري محمد صلاح، هدف التقدم لفريقه ليفربول في شباك وست هام يونايتد، والتي انتهت بفوز الريدز 3-1.

وجاء هدف صلاح في الدقيقة 57 ضمن مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ثم سجل المصري هدفًا ثانيًا في الدقيقة 68، ليرفع رصيده في ترتيب هدافي البريميرليج. هدف محمد صلاح الأول في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام

هدف محمد صلاح الثاني في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام

ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدف محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام

محمد صلاح، ليفربول، 15 هدفًا.

هاري كين، توتنهام، 12 هدفًا.

سون هيونج مين، توتنهام، 12 هدفًا.

برونو فرنانديز، مانشستر يونايتد، 11 هدفًا.

جيمي فاردي، ليستر سيتي، 11 هدفًا.

كالفيرت لوين، إيفرتون، 11 هدفًا.

باتريك بامفورد، ليدز يونايتد، 11 أهداف.

كالوم ويلسون، نيوكاسل، 10 أهداف.

ويلفريد زاها، كريستال بالاس، 9 أهداف.

واتكنس، أستون فيلا، 8 أهداف.

ألكسندر لاكازيت، آرسنال، 8 أهداف.

ساديو ماني، ليفربول، 7 أهداف.

ماركوس راشفورد، مانشستر يونايتد، 7 أهداف.

داني إنجز، ساوثهامبتون، 7 أهداف.

نيل موباي، برايتون، 7 أهداف.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي مُحدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Independent, French giants PSG approached Manchester United over the possibility of swapping Neymar for Paul Pogba this summer.

What’s the word?

The report claims that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side turned down the enquiry and felt a deal for the Brazilian superstar would have been far too expensive to justify.

It claims that despite the club’s openness to making a major marquee signing, United were put off by Neymar’s sizeable £900k-a-week wages and Ed Woodward’s own intent on wanting to keep Pogba at Old Trafford for the foreeseable future.

The same old flaws

On paper, getting rid of a problematic issue like Pogba and simultaneously bringing someone in with the technical quality of a Neymar seems like a no-brainer. The Brazil international has long-been heralded as one of the best in the world not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi and his performances on the pitch at both Barcelona and now PSG have proven that to be the case.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

But just like with Pogba, the issue is seemingly more off the pitch. The 27-year-old appears to carry a lot of baggage with him in terms of his temperament and attitude and in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica at the World Cup last year, PSG skipper Thiago Silva revealed his Brazilian compatriot insulted him for showing sportmanship to the opposition. He said: “I was saddened by his behaviour. By the time I returned the ball, he insulted me.”

His penchant for wanting to try rainbow flicks in the middle of a game or trying to showboat even in the most ridiculous of times reeks of someone playing for himself. Having seen the likes of Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, amongst others, do virtually the same for the past few seasons in Manchester, the last thing the club needs is someone who takes that level of selfishness and arrogance to the max in Neymar.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

His reported £900k-a-week wages bring a whole host of problems to the table too. If you thought the dressing room could have been divided by Sanchez’s eye-watering deal then imagine the scenes had Neymar arrived.

So whilst it might seem like they’ve turned down a chance to bring in a potential Ballon d’Or winner and bona fide superstar, saying no to PSG might just have seen United dodge a very painful bullet indeed.

[ad_pod ]

According to The Mirror, Liverpool winger Harry Wilson has sparked a scramble for his signature after deciding he wants to quit the Reds, with Brighton and Hove Albion one of the clubs interested in him.

The 22-year-old has just enjoyed a successful season-long loan spell with Derby County in the Championship, but despite an impressive personal campaign he couldn’t help the Rams reach the Premier League as they were beaten in the Championship play-off final by Aston Villa.

The versatile attacker scored 18 goals and provided a further six assists in 49 appearances in all competitions for Frank Lampard’s men, and he was particularly impressive from set-piece situations.

The Mirror report that Wilson wants regular first-team football next term and doesn’t believe he will get it with the Merseyside outfit, meaning an exit may well be looming.

Meanwhile, Brighton only narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship themselves following a thoroughly disappointing 2018/2019 campaign, and new manager Graham Potter will surely be looking to strengthen his squad in the coming weeks.

What can Brighton fans expect from new manager Graham Potter? Find out in the video below…

While the Seagulls are reportedly interested in the 22-year-old, he may well come at a price with The Daily Mail saying earlier this month that he is rated at around £25m by the Premier League runners-up.

Wilson actually came up against the south coast outfit in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February, and was pictured in action with Anthony Knockaert.

Both players’ preferred position this term was on the right wing, and should Brighton end up pulling off a big-money move then it looks likely that it would be the Frenchman losing his spot in the starting XI.

Matteo Guendouzi is a player that continues to divide opinion amongst the Arsenal fans.

It has become rather difficult to know what the young Frenchman offers the side at times as his performances can often blow hot and cold.

At times, he has looked an inspired signing and one that has looked good enough to be considered one for the future, however, there have been performances that will have left fans scratching their heads in the same way that they did when Arsenal first signed him. We had no idea who he was back then either.

He can be a rather mediocre talent at times and can appear to struggle with the ball at his feet as he is guilty of losing possession on a number of occasions. He might wear his heart on his sleeve and has plenty of potential, but Guendouzi is not quite the player that the Gunners can rely on just yet, especially if one of their reported targets is available for a bargain fee.

According to Il Mattino (via Sport Witness), Amadou Diawara is thought to be available for a fee of just €20million (£17.6m) and Arsenal are said to be interested in the player – as are fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The Guinea international has struggled for game-time at Napoli this season and it seems Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to allow the 21-year-old to leave the Serie A outfit for the low transfer fee.

Diawara might be around the same age as Guendouzi, however, he has plenty of pace and also has the physicality to make him a success in the Premier League.

He is very much in the midfield destroyer mould, but has a truly impressive passing ability and rarely gets dispossessed in midfield. Diawara is the kind of player who loves to break lines and is very strong, whilst his positional awareness is rather incredible given his age. He is extremely adept at linking the defence to the attack but does more of the unheralded grunt work in midfield.

Teaming him up alongside the likes of Lucas Torreira could work wonders for Emery’s side and could leave Guendouzi’s place in the team in serious doubt if he were to arrive at the Emirates Stadium.

However, if he is available for just £17.6m, then Arsenal should seriously think about capturing his signature this summer.

Arsenal fans, do you think the club should look to sign Diawara this summer? Would he be an upgrade on Guendouzi? Let us know your thoughts below!