All posts by z3u9t.icu

The international break has given Celtic a couple of weeks to rest and recharge ahead of an important run of games as Ange Postecoglou attempts to reclaim the Scottish Premiership crown from Rangers this season.

It gives a chance for players with injuries to recover and get themselves fit for the clash with Motherwell in the Premiership on the 16th.

What it also does is afford players the opportunity to go away with their country and put in strong performances away from Celtic to show Postecoglou that they deserve more minutes at club level.

One player who had a chance to benefit from this was Tom Rogic as he featured for Australia against Oman in a World Cup Qualifier on Thursday night.

This is particularly pertinent due to Postecoglou’s connection with the country, having managed the nation for four years after growing up in Australia despite being born in Greece.

The £16k-per-week midfielder, Rogic, has only started four of Celtic’s Premiership matches this term and has averaged 46 minutes per game across his eight appearances.

This comes after he started ten times in the league last season, featuring off the bench in a further 13 games. He has, however, started both of Celtic’s Europa League matches this season, averaging a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.40 against Real Betis and Bayer Leverkusen – creating zero chances.

So, did Rogic do enough against Oman to show Postecoglou, who may well have been cheering on his country, that he deserves more starts in the Premiership this season?

Unfortunately, he didn’t as he put in a worrying display for Australia despite their 3-1 win.

As per SofaScore, Rogic lost 100% of his duels on the pitch in 63 minutes. He lost his one ground duel and made zero tackles, interceptions, clearances or blocks. The attacking midfielder also gave away possession 12 times from 29 touches of the ball – once every 2.4 touches.

To his credit, Rogic did produce one moment of magic in the match. He made an impressive burst into the box and cut the ball back to a teammate, who saw his shot saved and rebounded by Martin Boyle to score the second of their three goals.

However, that was his only key pass of the match as he failed with both of his cross attempts and his only long ball attempt, whilst completing just 67% of his passes.

Rogic may have shown a glimpse of quality in the build-up to the second goal, but the underlying statistics around his performance do not suggest that Postecoglou will be desperate to hand him more starts after watching his display. Therefore, the Australian failed to grasp his opportunity to impress.

AND in other news,  Celtic could have a new Turnbull in rarely-seen 19 y/o who’s an “outstanding talent”…

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndomebele’s fitness has been questioned by club legend Glenn Hoddle following the home defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

The Lowdown: First game back

It has been clear since he moved to Tottenham that the Frenchman hasn’t been an unqualified success. Apart from a handful of outstanding moments, such as his audacious goal at Sheffield United last season, the 24-year-old has largely struggled with life in N17.

Yesterday’s defeat to Chelsea was his 77th appearance for the club and his first in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo after previously playing just 79 minutes of first team football this season against Rennes.

He only featured for 62 minutes, in a midfield diamond, before being replaced by Oliver Skipp, and his fitness levels have been criticised following the defeat.

The Latest: Not fit enough

Speaking to Premier League Productions [via Spurs Web] following the Chelsea game, former Spurs boss Hoddle has questioned the midfielder’s fitness as the match was ultimately won in the middle of the park after N’Golo Kante’s introduction at half-time.

Hoddle said: “The first 20 minutes of a football match, for a professional player, you should have the intensity, you should have the energy to close down and have a picture in your mind. Slowly, but surely, they got fatigued and there was too much space on the edge of the area.

“Ndombele, in the end, he has got to get himself fit to play football. He’s not fit enough, the lad. He’s got ability.”

The Verdict: Time to shine

To be fair to the £45m-valued Ndombele, Nuno opted not to include him in any of the opening four games or any of the pre-season fixtures. After a summer of wanting out of the club, the 24-year-old now must now work on his fitness and battle with Skipp for the slot next to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the middle of the park.

With the Danish international a more defensive-minded player, Spurs have lacked a creative plug within midfield in their previous two games against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Getting Ndombele back to his best could be on Nuno’s mind and may hint at why he has started the previous two games. He has the chance on Wednesday to gain more minutes under his belt in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Wolves as he hopefully improves his fitness levels in order to make a more telling contribution to the team.

In other news, Tottenham have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of a 21-year-old striker. Find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in Jules Kounde, according to reports…

What’s the word?

French outlet L’Equipe (via GFFN) claim Spurs are still in the running to sign the Sevilla centre-back but Premier League rivals Chelsea are “very firmly in the driving seat.”

The north Londoners were first linked to the Frenchman before the arrival of Cristian Romero from Atalanta, though it’s always been believed that they wanted to sign two new central defenders this transfer window.

Back in July, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claimed Spurs had reached an agreement with the La Liga outfit for the 22-year-old but further reports from Spain suggested that the player had rejected such advances.

Paratici masterclass

If sporting director Fabio Paratici can add the France international to Nuno Santo’s squad, then it has to be considered quite the coup, particularly as he could pair Romero for years to come.

The 2020/21 Serie A ‘Defender of the Year’ and Kounde would be one scary unit at the back.

After an impressive domestic campaign, the young defender made Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad over some big names, including Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano and World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti.

Kounde ended the season as Sevilla’s highest-rated player (7.01), as per WhoScored figures. He also averaged a squad-high three aerial duels won, displaying his dominating physical attributes despite only being 5 foot 10, on top of 1.2 interceptions and a remarkable 90.1% passing accuracy, proving he can play the ball out from the back to good effect.

Valued at £54m by Transfermarkt, the two-cap beast wouldn’t come cheap but Spurs would be getting every bit of value in whatever price they’d be expected to pay.

At just 22, he’s nowhere near his peak and he has been touted for a big future in the game.

“He’s still so young, he’s got energy, great positioning too. All the centre-backs, not just in Spain I think, but if you look around Europe, he’s got to be one of the highest prospects,” claimed La Liga expert Euan McTear to The Transfer Tavern.

“To be playing for France, who have countless centre-backs, if he’s able to get himself into that group, then, yeah, he’s pretty special.”

Just imagine Kounde and Romero at the back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the next few seasons, it’s a mouth-watering prospect and one that could strike fear into many a Premier League attack.

Paratici must look to seal Nuno another centre-back and there cannot be many options out there like the Sevilla man. If he pulls it off, then it would be another masterclass from the new Spurs supremo.

AND in other news, “I’m told”: Alasdair Gold drops huge Spurs transfer claim, fans will be buzzing…

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills believes that Tyler Roberts is not pulling his weight with the Whites and has suggested that the Welshman could leave Elland Road soon.

The Lowdown: Roberts’ lack of playing time

The 22-year-old has suffered a frustrating season so far, struggling to become a key part of Marcelo Bielsa’s plans.

Roberts may have featured in all 13 of their Premier League matches to date, but he has started just one of those, highlighting his current status within the manager’s setup.

It is a big drop-off from last season when 14 league starts came the Welshman’s way, and Mills believes that the forward may feel his future lies away from Leeds.

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The Latest: Mills critical of Roberts

The 44-year-old has been unimpressed by Roberts’ performances and told Football Insider that more needs to come from him, especially when opportunities have arisen due to team-mates’ injuries.

Mills outlined:

“I’ve said for a long time, I look at Roberts as a squad player, not much more than that. If I’m honest I don’t see much more.

“He’s had enough chances and he’s never really performed to an incredibly high standard where you think ‘Wow, he has got to start. He has to play the next game’.

“Leeds have had some good older players but they don’t have many in that mid-20s bracket to come in and fill in when those senior players are out injured or suspended.

“He should be a definite starter, he’s got some experience and been in and around it. If Bamford’s injured, he has to be the next name on the team sheet. At the moment, he’s not for whatever reason.”

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The Verdict: Time to move on?

With each passing week, the more it feels as though Roberts is on the periphery of things at Leeds, and it is hard to see how he is going to become a key player under Bielsa. His current Whites deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2024, so the Whites could still receive a healthy amount for him if a decent offer arrives.

Interestingly, Roberts only signed a contract extension earlier this year, but Bielsa’s sporadic use of him suggests that the Argentine wouldn’t be awfully unhappy to see him leave.

At 22, there is an argument to say that patience is still required with the Welshman, but eight goals and nine assists in 98 Leeds appearances is a poor return for an attacking player. Therefore, it’s little wonder why Mills has questioned his efforts in a white shirt.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided an update on a potential Leeds transfer. Read more here.

Watford have been linked with a move for Celta Vigo ace Okay Yokuslu recently, and he could be the man to replace Will Hughes should the 26-year-old leave Vicarage Road this summer.

What’s the word?

According to the Watford Observer, Yokuslu’s agent was at Watford’s training ground earlier this week in order to speak to sporting director Cristiano Giaretta, which suggests that a move could well be on the cards.

The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom, and whilst they are also said to be keen on bringing him back, Yokuslu would reportedly prefer a move to a Premier League side.

Bye-bye Will Hughes?

It is no surprise to see Watford being linked with midfielders ahead of the new campaign, as Hughes’ future at Vicarage Road is looking increasingly uncertain. The former Derby player was reportedly demoted to the under-23s as a result of the ongoing contract dispute, whilst the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa have been linked with a move for him.

Therefore, unless a resolution is found quickly, it would be a surprise to see Hughes start the Premier League season as a Watford player, especially as his current deal is set to expire in 2022, meaning that the Hornets could be forced to cash in on him now.

The 26-year-old played a key role in Watford’s promotion to the Premier League last term, averaging a solid 6.85 rating from WhoScored across his 30 appearances in the Championship. He would undoubtedly need swift replacing should he depart this summer, and Yokuslu could be the ideal man for the task.

The Turkey international helped improve West Brom significantly last season, averaging an impressive 6.96 rating from WhoScored across his 16 top-flight appearances, but he was ultimately unable to save them from relegation.

Considering that Xisco Munoz’s team will likely be one of the favourites for the drop in 2021/22, swapping a possession-based player such as Hughes for the more physical and defensive-minded Yokuslu could be a smart move by the Hornets this summer.

The 27-year-old earned rave reviews during his time at The Hawthorns last season, with former teammate Kyle Bartley saying: “He’s been brilliant. He seems to have settled in really quickly which is always important for a player at a new club.

“You can see already that he’s a really good player. I thought he was great against Manchester United on his full debut and then he backed that up with another impressive performance on Saturday against Burnley.

“He’s tenacious. He’s good on the ball. He’s calm and composed. I think he’s made a big difference in there.”

Therefore, it seems clear that the £6.75m-rated Yokuslu would be a stellar addition to Watford’s side this summer, even if it proves to be a catalyst in Hughes departing Vicarage Road on a permanent deal.

In other news… Watford dealt huge transfer blow with “explosive” 28-goal beast

Nottingham Forest midfielder Fouad Bachirou is edging closer to an exit from the City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Cypriot media outlet Sport FM, who claimed that Omonia Nicosia have identified the 31-year-old as their primary transfer target for an addition to their midfield, with the website dubbing the Comoros international as the Protathlima Cyta side’s “chosen one” this summer.

It would seem unlikely that Dane Murphy will stand in the way of the Cypriot club’s potential move, as it has previously been reported that the midfielder is not a part of Chris Hughton’s first team plans ahead of the new Championship season, with the 62-year-old informing Bachirou that he is free to find a new club in the summer transfer window.

Get him gone

Having joined Nottingham Forest from Malmo in a £603,000 move last summer, with Sabri Lamouchi giving the midfielder a two-year deal on a reported £18k-per-week, it would be fair to say that Bachirou has neither justified his transfer fee nor his rather hefty weekly wage during his time at the club.

Indeed, while a hamstring injury didn’t help, the 31-year-old nevertheless made just three appearances in all competitions for Hughton’s side last season.

Only one of those came in the Championship, with the midfielder dubbed an “important” player by the Nordic Football Podcast when coming on as a second half substitute in a 0-0 draw with Barnsley, despite his performance in the fixture earning him a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.50.

As such, considering his lack of involvement within Forest’s first team squad, plus Hughton’s comments regarding the Comoran’s future in Nottingham, it would indeed appear wise for Murphy to cash in on the midfielder while the interest is there. To put it bluntly, Bachirou has been nothing but a waste of money for the Championship club thus far.

In other news: Imagine him & Johnson: Murphy could solve big Forest problem with swoop for 19 G/A ace

An update has emerged on Southampton target Junior Firpo, regarding Leeds’ interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Leeds United have joined Southampton in the race to land Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo. The defender is looking to leave the Catalan giants in the coming months and does not want to join another side in La Liga.

The report claims Southampton and West Ham are also interested in Firpo, whilst Italian sides AC Milan and Napoli are said to be keen. Barcelona are open to either a permanent deal or a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

Must act swiftly

Southampton CEO Martin Semmens must now act swiftly in order to stand a chance of landing the Spaniard this summer.

With a host of sides in England and Italy competing for his signature it could be difficult for the Saints to to snap him up, which is why Semmens has to move quickly. If the Premier League chief can get in ahead of the other interested parties then he could be able to wrap up a deal before Leeds, West Ham or Napoli are able to prepare their respective offers.

A year ago, former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal said that the 24-year-old has the talent to become one of the best left-backs on the planet, highlighting the quality of player Southampton could potentially be signing ahead of next season.

He told Diario Sport, as transcribed by Tribuna:

“He’s a player with a lot of potential. He could be one of the best left-backs in the world. I always tell him that he must work hard and be aware of the (style of) play. He’s going to get better, for sure. It’s always difficult to get started at Barca.”

The Athletic have reported that Southampton are closing in on the signing of Romain Perraud from Brest in Ligue 1 and this should not have any impact on a deal for Firpo. Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to add at least two fullbacks to his squad and that opens the door to the Barcelona man arriving at St. Mary’s after Perraud to bolster the Austrian’s defensive options.

Therefore, Firpo could be a much-needed signing for the south coast outfit. the £105k-per-week beast has experience playing in La Liga and the Champions League for Barcelona, whilst Hasenhuttl’s current back-up left-back Jake Vokins was only able to play four times in League One on loan to Sunderland in the second-half of last season.

This suggests that the top-flight side will be able to make a sizeable improvement to their squad by bringing the Barcelona fullback in to compete with Perraud for a spot in the team, whether that be on loan or on a permanent basis.

AND in other news, Semmens must sanction Saints swoop for “exceptional” 24 G/A wizard, Ralph needs him…

When Rafa Benitez first stepped foot in Merseyside again, he wasn’t exactly greeted very nicely by some Everton supporters.

Banners were hung outside his home and there were considerable protests against his appointment.

Therefore, the Spaniard needed to start quickly and impress from the off. The club’s transfer window wasn’t exactly a fair indication of what Benitez can do but their form has been superb.

Everton have taken seven points from their opening three league games but they do now have a problem on the cards.

On the chalkboard

That issue happens to revolve around James Rodriguez.

The Colombian looked a dead certainty to leave Goodison Park behind this summer and his lack of action in the opening few weeks of the season indicated that he was heading for the exit door.

Rodriguez hasn’t played a single minute of competitive action under the new manager but a move unfortunately fell through on deadline day.

Everton were confident of agreeing a swap deal with Porto to bring Luis Diaz to the club in exchange but Rodriguez ultimately didn’t move. His agent Jorge Mendes tried to engineer a move to Italy but he ended up staying in Merseyside.

Benitez has a dilemma on his hands now. Rodriguez has made his feelings clear and doesn’t exactly want to play for the Toffees again. He wasn’t even aware of who their opponents were a few weeks ago, for instance.

That being said, he clearly possesses immense talent. The former Real Madrid star contributed to ten Premier League goals last term and provided more key passes per match than anybody else in the Toffees’ squad.

However, their new signings look ready and raring to go. Demarai Gray has opened up his Everton account with two goals and a Player of the Month nomination after signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

Alongside Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Everton attack looks vibrant.

Add Anthony Gordon into the equation and their forward line could become even more mouth-watering.

The 20-year-old has very rarely started for the Everton first team, featuring on just 21 occasions since breaking through. That being said, he’s clearly in Benitez’s plans, with the youngster earning minutes from the bench against Southampton on the opening day of the season.

Possessing the ability to play behind the striker and on the flanks, he feels like a player who is more deserving of game time in Rodriguez’s role. Although he’s not scored a senior goal yet, the future is bright for Gordon.

Greg Cunningham, his teammate on loan at Preston last season, said that the youngster was set for an “exciting” career, while David Unsworth was even more complimentary.

Speaking to The Athletic, he commented: “His balance sprinting with the ball and his balance going past people is something you don’t see every day. He’s got unbelievable pace and he’s a Scouser too, so he’s tough.”

With a rare set of traits in Gordon’s armoury, Benitez would be foolish not to unleash him.

AND in other news, “Being monitored”: Journo makes Celtic transfer claim, their next Ajer may arrive soon…

Harvey Elliott will have the chance to make his case for a squad role at Liverpool in pre-season, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce.

The lowdown

The winger spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship and the 18-year-old finished the season as their joint-third highest scorer with seven goals in 42 appearances.

More impressively, he was third in the division overall for assists with 11, behind only Reading’s Michael Olise (12) and Norwich City’s Emiliano Buendia (16).

Elliott featured in Goal’s ‘Next Gen 50’, a list of the best wonderkids in football, while his then-Blackburn team-mate Elliott Bennett raved about him in January, dubbing him a ‘special, special player’.

The latest

Writing for The Athletic, Pearce has said that Elliott ‘will get opportunities’ to shine in Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies this summer.

That’s because the players who have been on international duty at the European Championship or Copa America will be given three weeks’ rest after their involvement in the respective tournaments has concluded.

The teenager is said to be ‘determined to use that time to convince Klopp’ to integrate him into the Reds’ first team setup next season rather than sending him out on loan once again.

The verdict

Klopp may see no need to rush, but in Elliott he has a player who looks capable of making an instant impression at the highest level.

Who’s to say he can’t have a similar impact to players like Bukayo Saka or Mason Greenwood, both of whom have won senior England caps as teenagers, if enough trust is placed in him?

The competition at Liverpool may be greater, both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations in January, potentially opening the door for Elliott to get a prolonged chance in the Reds’ first team – if it hasn’t come before then.

In other news, many Reds fans were buzzing at this development. 

For all of the world, it looked as though Eddie Howe was going to walk through the door at Parkhead this summer and become the new manager of Celtic.

However, in a remarkable turn of events, the deal fell through on Friday, with the Hoops now turning their attention elsewhere.

What’s the word?

The Celtic hierarchy are now in advanced talks with Australian manager Ange Postecoglou. He currently manages in Japan but took control of his homeland’s national team between 2013 and 2017, leading them to Asian Cup glory in 2015 and managing them at the previous year’s World Cup.

That said, he’s not the only one who is now interested in the vacancy, as a certain Roy Keane has re-emerged in the conversation.

That’s according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, who took to Twitter on Saturday to reveal: “Keane wants it badly. But people in power there don’t want him. Shame. Would have been fun.”

Should Keane get the job?

The short answer to that question is no. Consequently, Celtic fans should be elated that those in the boardroom aren’t keen on luring him to Paradise.

A few months ago, Keane’s name came up before Eddie Howe was even in the frame, with the Irishman meeting with Dermot Desmond and undergoing an interview.

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However, shortly after that process took place, it came to light that he was no longer in a position to be hired by the board.

The Manchester United legend has a bond with the club from when he played in Glasgow, but he wouldn’t be suited for Celtic and what they require from a coach.

Keane’s hot-headed nature has transferred into his punditry and he does appear to be a good man manager. After all, Michael Chopra described the 49-year-old as an “unbelievable guy” following his spell at Ipswich.

The former midfielder earned promotion to the Premier League with Sunderland but his overall numbers don’t make for particularly pretty reading. That’s without considering his ten-year absence from the managerial game, either.

During his tenure with the Black Cats, Keane won 42% of his matches but that tumbled when he took charge of Ipswich. He prevailed in a measly 34.6% of his matches at the helm at Portman Road.

His irascible nature has also led to messy fallouts with players, with former Ireland international Jon Walters slamming the 49-year-old over some highly criticial comments.

With that in mind, it’s rather amazing that he was able to secure an interview in the first place.

Some Hoops supporters were left bemused by the idea of Keane arriving when interest first came to light, so they should be pleased that those at the top of the Celtic food chain don’t want him as their next manager.

AND in other news, Celtic could find their new Shaun Maloney with move for “complete” 20-goal wizard…