Southampton fans have been frustrated with the performances and results on the pitch.
On top of that, the club sold defender Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool at the start of January, despite fighting so hard to keep the Dutchman in the summer.
As it stands, the coastal club reside 17th in the Premier League table, with just a marginally better goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone.
The team have picked up just four top-flight wins this season, the latest coming all the way back in November in the form of a 4-1 triumph over Everton.
The Saints have lost five and drawn four since that victory, which has caused fans to turn on the manager.
With the transfer window in full swing, Southampton’s following will be desperate for some new faces in there squad, particularly up front.
The likes of Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini have been misfiring, and in total the team have scored just 21 goals in 22 league games.
While speaking to the media in his press conference previewing Saturday’s trip to Watford, Pellegrino admitted that he wants to bring in a forward player before the end of the month.
According to The Ugly Inside, Southampton are reportedly lining up a late January move for Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela with their hopes of signing Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes fading, and Saints fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
The Ugly Inside says that the imminent arrival of Lucas Moura at Spurs could pave the way for Lamela to leave the north London outfit, with his first-team starts limited following his return from a long-term hip injury in November.
Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that the south coast outfit’s move for Promes had stalled because Spartak have so far been unable to find a replacement for their 26-year-old star, and it remains to be seen whether Saints will make a move for an alternative or not.
Saints supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the Lamela link, and while one said “this better not be true”, another said “please tell me you’re kidding?”
In his press conference on Thursday afternoon, Jose Mourinho finally had his say on reports linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a dramatic return to Manchester United.
What’s the Story?
If Jose Mourinho’s latest comments are anything to go by, it seems that the dream return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford may remain a dream for United fans.
After a number of reports had suggested that the Portuguese star could make a romantic return to his old club, Mourinho swiftly moved to quash the rumours in his press conference ahead of United’s F.A. Cup tie with Yeovil;
“I should be the last one to add some fuel to the fire. Madrid is on fire, the results are not good and it is a club where I worked three years. I care about the club and I don’t want to add fire. To put some water on the fire I would say Cristiano is the kind of player every manager wants, every club wants. But only one manager can have and only one club can have – Zidane and Real Madrid, that’s my feeling”.
How good has Ronaldo been this season?
Like most Galactico’s, the 2017/18 season has been one to forget for Ronaldo thus far.
Incredibly, Real Madrid are 19 points behind Barcelona already, have been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by lowly Leganes and have a tricky Champions League tie against free-spending Paris Saint Germain.
While Ronaldo, who is valued at £108million by Transfermarkt, has been struggling with injuries, he is still yet to live up to expectation and is reportedly ready to leave the Bernabeu. However, it looks as if he won’t be heading back to Manchester for the time being.
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In an interview with ESPN, Christian Pulisic has revealed that he would like to play in the Premier League one day, fuelling rumours of a potential move to Manchester United.
The 19-year-old, who is valued at £40.5million by Transfermarkt, stated;
“Of course, the Premier League is an unbelievable league. You never know in football what can happen”.
Pulisic is an American international and has been one of the most revered stars in the Bundesliga for the last 18 months.
The 19-year-old will miss out on the 2018 World Cup, after the USA failed to qualify and will be a significant loss to the tournament.
However, fans of English football could be seeing more of him sooner rather than later, if his latest quotes are to be taken seriously.
Upon hearing the comments from Pulisic, Manchester United fans took to Twitter desperate to see the young star play at Old Trafford in the future…
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Aston Villa’s seven-game winning run in the Championship came to an end on Saturday in a 2-0 defeat to another in-form side, Fulham.Steve Bruce’s men had been flying high, particularly after beating arch rivals Birmingham City in the previous round of matches.However, the Cottagers had the edge on home soil as they extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches thanks to goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite.Villa dropped out of the top two as a result, but are just two points adrift of an automatic promotion spot to the Premier League.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/manager-vs-manager.mp4Fulham are on their shoulder, though, as they linger four points behind them in fifth place.Ahmed Elmohamady has been one of Villa’s important players this season having made 30 appearances and creating five assists.The Egyptian international, who was substituted after 46 minutes following a challenge from Matt Targett, took to Twitter after the final whistle.The post was brief, but gave a very clear indication that Elmohamady is not wallowing.
With the end of the season fast approaching, the pressure’s really beginning to tell in the Premier League. While those near the bottom of the table are nervously partaking in low-scoring encounters as they seek to keep the points tally ticking over, many of the sides at the top are still struggling with turbulent form and underwhelming performances.
But the pressure throughout the division is precisely why we love the Premier League, and Gameweek 29 certainly wasn’t short of talking points. We run through all the action in the top flight with a look back at those who triumphed and those who toiled…
Winner – Jack Butland
With Joe Hart still stuck on the bench at West Ham, the race for England’s World Cup gloves is well and truly on – and after contrasting fortunes for two of the leading candidates in Gameweek 29, it’s quickly becoming Jack Butland’s spot in the starting XI to lose.
While Jordan Pickford came under the spotlight on Match of the Day for conceding two goals he could have easily prevented by positioning himself better and being more proactive, Butland made six huge saves to seal Stoke City what could prove to be a vital point away at Southampton.
The Three Lions face Netherlands and Italy later this month and Butland looks set to enter the international break as Gareth Southgate’s No.1.
Loser – Sam Allardyce
The situation is starting to become toxic at Everton and the 2-1 defeat to Burnley on Sunday was another damning blow to Sam Allardyce’s tenure.
While there’s no shame in coming up short at Turf Moor, it marked Everton’s sixth defeat in nine Premier League games and their fifth straight loss on the road in the top flight.
Toffees fans always felt uneasy with the appointment because of Allardyce’s notoriously pragmatic and attritional style of play, but when it’s not getting results either the one-time England gaffer is left without a leg to stand on.
An abrupt dismissal this summer now seems inevitable unless Everton can start picking up good results while playing positive football.
Winner – Slaven Bilic
Slaven Bilic became the fall guy for West Ham’s horrendous start to the season, but a shock capitulation against Swansea on Saturday suggests the problems at the London Stadium stem far deeper than the man in the dugout.
Although injuries were no doubt a factor – at one point, West Ham’s defence at the Liberty Stadium consisted of four full-backs – the result and manner of performance highlighted the inconsistent mindset at the heart of this team that oft falls victim to complacency.
While Bilic surely wishes his former club no ill-feeling, he will have felt somewhat vindicated on Saturday as the Irons took a nervous step back towards the relegation zone.
Losers – Arsenal’s players
It’s all well and good blaming Arsene Wenger, but the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday was as much about the will of the players as tactics, philosophy, transfer policy or any other grievance that can be put at the Frenchman’s door.
Arsenal’s players simply weren’t up for the challenge from the off like Chris Hughton’s side were, rushing to a two-goal lead within 26 minutes and seeing the game out from that point. Of course, if the players are no longer responding to Wenger, a change is inevitably needed.
But especially after such a humiliating week in which Manchester City humbled them twice, there was a disturbing lack of professional pride on Sunday. Arsenal’s most experienced players need to take a look at themselves.
Winners – Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may have missed out on just rewards for what was a fantastic performance against Manchester United, but the Eagles need to look at the positives amid their relegation scrap.
Only a Nemanja Matic wonderstrike in added time stopped them from picking up a huge point against the second-best team in England and it’s vital Roy Hodgson retains that mentality and positive approach in the coming weeks when his side face Chelsea and Liverpool.
If the South Londoners can take a few points from those games, they’ll enter the run-in with fate largely in their hands as they encounter a number of relegation rivals.
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Loser – Anti-football
Chelsea’s passive performance at Manchester City on Sunday has moved the debate over defensive football to the very heart of the Premier League. It’s one thing Newcastle playing for goal difference against Pep Guardiola’s side, but it’s another when the Premier League’s reigning champions are doing it as well.
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Handing City three points essentially before a ball was kicked, Antonio Conte’s approach has been rightly criticised from practically all quarters.
Perhaps it will be vindicated at the end of the season should the top four race come down to goal difference, but it so sharply contrasts with the mentality of the Premier League that it’s hard to truly see the merits of the anti-football that has disappointingly been seen throughout all levels of the top flight this season.
Winner – United’s Fergie Throwback
Speaking of defensive football, after all the criticism Jose Mourinho has received this season, last night’s incredible comeback at Selhurst Park was undoubtedly a crucially therapeutic and cathartic experience for Manchester United.
Hardly stunning football, excepting Matic’s winning goal, but United’s three goals after going two down contained delicious traces of the Ferguson years and provided a positive spin to a gameweek that will mostly be remembered for how painfully dull Chelsea made its headline clash.
That comeback also breeds vital belief into a United squad that has often looked uncertain of itself in recent months.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell is aiming to be number one for a long time at Elland Road, but admits competition for the spot will be intense.The 21 year-old goalkeeper started just his second league game for Leeds in the 3-0 defeat vs Wolves on Wednesday night.Peacock-Farrell was busy on Wednesday night, as a shocking defensive display from Leeds left the young keeper exposed for most of the night. His performance split the Leeds fans, as he made a crucial mistake for the third goal after a good performance until that point.Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Reading, Peacock-Farrell admitted his career had stagnated slightly since joning the club in 2015.
The youngster joined Superettan club Landskrona BoIS on a three-day trial in January, but the Swedish club decided not to sign him.
After a loan spell at York, he was thrown into the action on Wednesday thanks to an injury to Andy Lonergan and the poor form of Felix Wiedwald.
Asked whether he would keep his place for the Reading match, Peacock-Farrell said he’s not sure, as his fellow keepers are just as desperate as him to get the nod.
Leeds fans, would you stick with Peacock-Farrell at Reading on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
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Former Tottenham Hotspur flop Federico Fazio outdid his former team as he was part of the AS Roma side that qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night, and Spurs fans were quick to react to the news.
The north London outfit were knocked out of Europe’s elite club competition following a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Serie A giants Juventus last week, and the Old Lady’s Italian rivals joined them in the last eight as a 1-0 win in Rome saw them beat Shakhtar Donetsk on away goals.
The 30-year-old, who played 32 times for Spurs before joining Roma in 2017 – something the Wembley faithful weren’t too upset about at the time – featured for the full 90 minutes for his side in the win against the Ukrainian champions.
Tottenham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the Argentine centre-back’s latest display, and while one said “bet he’s sad he left Spurs”, another described him as “another Spurs reject doing well”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul was only on the pitch for 45 minutes of Spain’s 1-1 draw against Germany on Friday night.
Despite that, the half-time substitute showed that he has the qualities that Manchester United lack in their engine room, and why they reportedly have an interest in a big money move for him.
Diego Simeone and Jose Mourinho are reasonably similar in their approach to the game; both demand defensive solidity, a strong work ethic and the willingness of their players sacrifice themselves for the team.
Saul has shown he can do that at Atletico but a midfielder doesn’t burst into the Spain setup without the quality on the ball to back it up and the midfielder – valued at £64m by Transfermarkt – certainly has that to his game as well.
In just one half, he had 50 touches and made 45 passes, so it’s clear that he’s largely playing one-touch football on the international stage. How United are crying out for someone who can quicken the tempo of their build-up play by doing just that.
He also hardly gave the ball away, with a 95 per cent passing accuracy. That would also please Mourinho, who doesn’t like his midfield players taking too many risks.
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He also mucked in defensively, showing the traits he has learned at Atletico, with one interception and there is no doubt that he can ably protect the defence as well.
Saul has a rare blend of craft and graft that would be absolutely perfect for Manchester United and he showed that once more on Friday night.
While Jurgen Klopp will only be interested in progression to the next round, Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City serves a dual purpose. Indeed, the biggest question in the Premier League right now isn’t who will win the title or even deserves to finish second; it’s who, if anybody, is capable of truly competing with Pep Guardiola’s stunning side next season.
Currently, Manchester United and Liverpool are the leading candidates. While the Red Devils are second in the table, the Merseysiders are still the only team to beat City in the Premier League this term – that emphatic 4-3 victory at Anfield back in January when they proved they can press and attack with the same velocity, incisiveness and ferociousness as their Wednesday night opponents.
But whether that was a freak result, a rare bad day for City amid the absence of their metronome David Silva and upon a frustrating night for Raheem Sterling who appeared overawed upon his return to Anfield, remains to be seen. Those two players have been at the heart of City’s most dominant displays this season and will be back on Wednesday night, as will captain Vincent Kompany who wasn’t even fit enough for a spot on the bench last time.
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Indeed, while nothing can be taken away from Liverpool’s performance and result in January, City will be at greater, practically full strength this time around, Sergio Aguero being the only exception. Add to the equation the sheer gravity of the situation, and this is a much bigger test than Liverpool’s last meeting with City – a win wouldn’t be so much a repeat result, more an improvement on their previous grade.
Of course, the Premier League title doesn’t rest on who performs best in the six-point contests alone. The teams outside of the top six have hardly left a mark on City this season – Everton, Crystal Palace and Burnley are the only sides to take points from them – and Liverpool will have to find a way of being as consistent against that level of opposition too.
The Reds have notably improved in that regard compared to the soft-underbelly-criticisms of previous campaigns and in Mohamed Salah they boast a dependable match-winner as he proved against Crystal Palace at the weekend, but there have still been too many draws this term; overall, Liverpool have dropped 13 points to non-top-six sides, more than twice as much as City.
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The other factor is, of course, the fact every major club in the Premier League will recognise the need to seriously strengthen this summer – starting with United. Should City beat United to clinch the title this Saturday, the humbling experience will only improve Jose Mourinho’s hand as he demands a blank cheque from Ed Woodward. Likewise, Chelsea appear due a real shakeup starting with the dugout – who knows quite what they’ll look like next season – and Tottenham’s young side will naturally improve once again, but could be further boosted by a few smart signings.
Nonetheless, when there’s so much talent available to the Premier League’s flagship clubs, the psychological edge can often be the difference and more than anything else, that’s what Wednesday’s showdown represents for Liverpool – the chance to prove they can consistently get the better of City, to chip away at that aura of invincibility, to claim the upper hand in the ongoing mental battle. While that’s obviously a long-term factor in deciding silverware, it can have an impact in the short-term next season too; although it didn’t quite happen this year, beating City upon their every trip to Anfield could send Guardiola’s team into something of a tailspin.
No doubt, plenty will change between now and the start of next season. But whereas United started the campaign in top gear and have since reduced to something of a quick-paced jog, Liverpool have grown in strength as the season’s gone on – particularly since the arrival of Virgil van Dijk, they now look more like a title-winning side than they ever have under Klopp.
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While the Champions League title will likely prove beyond Liverpool this season, a win over City on Wednesday will be represent a recognition of their title credentials ahead of United’s, and give them vital momentum to carry into 2018/19.