All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sunderland AFC feels like a circus at the moment.

It’s a mood that supporters have become accustomed to in the last four to five years but things have arguably never been as unclear as they are now.

Not only is Stewart Donald locked in negotiations to sell the club, but he’s now having to find a new manager for Sunderland too.

Earlier this week they sacked Phil Parkinson after a run of three straight league games without winning. Given the Black Cats are just six points off top spot you can consider it pretty harsh. Though, truth be told, the football was stale and the performances were unlikely to improve.

A host of replacements have been touted from Danny Cowley and Gus Poyet but the one candidate we’re going to focus on is Paul Cook, someone described as “charismatic” by Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

The former Wigan manager got the Latics out of League One and did so working under a pretty strict budget. Already that should be an impressive quality for Donald to get excited about when assessing his CV.

After all, this Sunderland side are right on the verge of the EFL’s salary cap so Cook won’t exactly have too much to spend.

And, providing he can get the most out his players, he won’t need to. Specifically, we’re talking about Will Grigg, someone whose transfer to the Stadium of Light has been nothing short of shambolic.

Sunderland needed a striker on deadline day in the winter window in 2019 but Donald couldn’t secure one – that was until he decided to pay a fee of £4m for Grigg.

Since walking through the doors he has scored just eight times, so it’s safe to say that Grigg, in this instance, is definitely not on fire.

However, under someone like Cook, he could rediscover himself and fire the Mackems to promotion. Why? Because they already have a superb understanding of each other.

In the 2017/18 season, Grigg played under Cook at Wigan and racked up a tally of 26 goals in 54 outings – 19 of which came in League One.

Since heading to the north-east, the striker has looked dejected and demoralised. That’s something that could change if Cook comes to the club.

Speaking after he sold Grigg to Sunderland in 2019, he said: “This football club will be here forever, and Will Grigg will forever be a part of its history.

“He’s an absolute diamond of a bloke and he’ll always be welcomed back here.”

It would be great to see their relationship reunited if Cook was appointed at the Stadium of Light.

If he can get Grigg firing in the goals again, that £4m will look like peanuts.

Meanwhile, Sunderland would be playing with fire by hiring this man as their sporting director…

With Wolves reportedly interested in signing Divock Origi from Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp must consider cashing in on the Belgian striker, after his less than impressive performances so far this season.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic, the Old Gold have a long-standing interest in the former Lille striker and will consider a move for him in January as they seek a replacement for Raul Jimenez, with the Mexican currently recovering from the fractured skull he suffered against Arsenal.

It also suggests that the Merseyside club are willing to listen to offers for the 25-year-old, suggesting that an exit next month could be likely.

Not good enough for Klopp

Unfortunately for Origi, since his heroics in the Champions League in the 2019/20 season, he has never really been able to establish as a first-team regular at Liverpool.

This season, in particular, has seen him struggle for game time, as the arrival of Diogo Jota has meant that he was no longer the first-choice back up for whenever any of the front three have been injured or rested.

The striker has made just seven appearances in all competitions this season, with his only goal coming in the League Cup win against Lincoln City.

His disappointing performances in the two fixtures against FC Midtjylland, in particular, have perhaps emphasised that, on current form, the 25-year-old simply isn’t good enough for Klopp’s first team.

He has also made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League, suggesting that Klopp no longer has faith in the Belgian international to be an impact player in his side.

After Origi impressed in a 5-2 win against Everton at Anfield in 2019, Phil Neville praised the striker, saying:

“He’s got a taste for the big games. He has made big contributions in big games.”

Whilst he will always be remembered for those two goals against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, as well as his goal to seal the trophy in the final against Spurs, his performances this season have been far from good enough, and Klopp should cash in on the £14.4 million rated man in January if Wolves, or any other side, come knocking.

And, in other news… LFC liability has run out of chances under Klopp, he should be sold in the summer

Many Aston Villa fans were left baffled after finding out that Dean Smith has not put Ross Barkley in the match day squad to play Crystal Palace.

Before picking up his injury in the match against Brighton, Barkley played five times in the Premier League, scoring two goals and getting one assist. Villa have definitely lost a huge threat as he has averaged 3.4 shots, three key passes and 2.2 successful dribbles per game (WhoScored).

Smith had then said that the Englishman would be fit to feature, however it seems like the Boxing Day fixture has come too soon for the attacking midfielder. Smith hasn’t yet commented on the omission, so for now fans are left to speculate, with some even taking aim at the manager’s decision.

The side haven’t struggled without Barkley, proven by the dominant 3-0 win over rivals West Brom last weekend, but that hasn’t stopped fans taking to Twitter to question his omission and show their bemusement during the build-up and first half of Saturday’s clash.

Villa fan reaction to Barkley omission:

From: @Aitken26A

“Why not just put him on the bench”

From: @BillBones84

“When Smith says “not risked” does it just mean he’s injured? Because the excuse that he wasn’t risked because of the cold the other day was ludicrous.”

From: @AVFCCharlie

“Still not Barkley? Getting concerned now”

From: @MikeMacey5

“Surprised there’s no Barkley. My only worry about El Ghazi is his consistency.”

From: @stewartcole79

“No Barkley again?”

From: @YusufYasser1

“Where is Barkley”

In other news: Aston Villa fans flocked to this update by Gregg Evans, find out more here.

As Glasgow Rangers’ 2020 draws to a close, it’s about time we took a step back and reflected on some of the best and worst moments of a truly unforgettable year for club and country.

Steven Gerrard’s side currently sit at the summit of the Scottish Premiership as they continue to build on a healthy lead over their arch rivals Celtic. However, the Ibrox boss will be well aware his side cannot afford to slip up, as he will want to avoid a repeat of last season.

Gerrard will be under no illusion of the scale of the task at hand as he juggles both domestic and European competitions as Rangers have resumed their hunt for silverware in a bid to break their barren run since they won their last major Hampden trophy back in 2011.

How well can you remember Rangers’ 2020? Test your knowledge to the very limit with Football FanCast’s Big Fat Quiz of 2020!

Crystal Palace have been handed a huge boost after Roy Hodgson appeared to confirm that Christian Benteke’s injury isn’t too serious, despite the Belgian striker being withdraw at halftime against Sheffield United, where he was replaced by Jordan Ayew.

What’s the news?

When asked about Benteke’s fitness at the weekend, Hodgson told reporters, via football.london: “Well, we think Benteke got a kick in the first half, which was obviously concerning him at half-time – a sort of dead leg. Normally those dead legs, if you’re lucky, don’t produce long-term problems.”

Palace snapped Benteke up from Liverpool for £27m in a club record deal on a four-year contract in 2016.

The 30-year-old centre-forward has been in decent form this season, scoring three goals in 12 appearances in the Premier League so far, via Transfermarkt. Given the extent of his injury, it appears he could be back in action in a matter of days.

Likely impact?

In fact, we’d even go so far as to say that Benteke has been one of Palace’s best players since the start of the season.

Palace have been in desperate need of some quality upfront for some time now and the Belgian international has delivered with great aplomb, bagging a brace against West Bromwich Albion in his first start of the campaign.

The Eagles boss reserved special praise for Benteke after he scored his first goals of the season, saying: “He has been patient and never stopped working. He showed the type of player he was when Palace bought him from Liverpool and has now got to keep that going.”

Whilst the goals have started to dry up, with just one in his past five games, his influential presence at the top of the pitch cannot be ignored, as he came close to scoring after combining with Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha in the first half before being replaced by Ayew.

It’s worth remembering he has still scored more goals than Ayew, Michy Batshuayi and Connor Wickham have between them, albeit the latter has spent nearly the entirety of the season so far on the sidelines.

With an FA Cup tie with Wolves next on the agenda, Benteke simply must be one of the first names on the team sheet if he is fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

AND in other news, Forget Eze: Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell sent Hodgson a timely reminder…

David Sullivan should re-think Felipe Anderson’s situation before accepting FC Porto’s rumoured decision to retain the West Ham United flop on loan for the remainder of the season.

What’s the word?

According to Record, Anderson will no longer be leaving the Estadio do Dragao after Porto chiefs decided against terminating the Brazilian’s one-season loan spell at the Liga NOS giants.

The Dragoes had been expected to part ways with Anderson this month, with confirmation of his return to east London said to be imminent after seeing the two-time international fail to establish himself under manager Sergio Conceicao.

Anderson has featured in just five fixtures across all competitions after failing to come off the bench during Porto’s 1-1 draw with rivals SL Benfica last Friday, as his wait for a first league outing since October continues.

West Ham were also rumoured to be looking into ending Anderson’s time in Portugal early in order to protect his market value, with a half-season loan move elsewhere seen to be the Hammers’ best route to securing a more lucrative sum in a permanent exit this summer.

But the picture may soon change, as Porto are understood to be struggling to get a deal for Gremio forward Pepe over the line and have been struck by a series of coronavirus cases.

The developments are thought to be offering Anderson a route back into Conceicao’s plans, despite the 27-year-old being remembered at the Estadio do Dragao for the mistakes he made during his early appearances this term.

U-turn needed

Sullivan risks West Ham’s worst nightmare coming true if Anderson does stay in the Liga NOS for the remainder of the season, as Conceicao cannot be trusted to field the 27-year-old any more than he has already despite how the January transfer window is unfolding for Porto.

Anderson is clearly not a valued member of Porto’s squad, having played just 61 minutes against third-tier GD Fabril Barreiro, 45 minutes against FC Pacos de Ferreira and 63 minutes against Olympiacos since last taking to the field for a top-flight game.

He has also been omitted from nine matchday squads across all competitions, to see his Transfermarkt valuation remain at £22.5m – the lowest figure touted since December 2017 – to round out what was a miserable year for Anderson – who was valued at £40.5m just 12-months ago.

Anderson living the remainder of the campaign in the wilderness at Porto will only see West Ham forced to accept a mammoth loss to the former club-record £36m paid to SS Lazio in 2018, like Sullivan was forced to allow with Sebastien Haller who departed for a £25m hit earlier this month.

If West Ham are to avoid that, they should re-consider recalling the forward and sending him out on loan to a side where first-team football will be far easier to secure. That way, Anderson will have a far better chance of rediscovering the form that saw him offer 10 goals and five assists in his maiden year at the London Stadium.

AND in other news, West Ham can secure David Moyes’ dream Mark Noble heir in a £25m January target…

Glasgow Rangers have been handed a double injury boost with several key players ready to return for Saturday’s clash with Ross County.

Steven Gerrard has been dealing with a lengthy injury list this season but the Rangers manager confirmed Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe have returned to first-team training and could make a return to action against Ross County after recovering from injury.

The midfielder hasn’t featured for Rangers since the 4-0 thrashing of his former club Aberdeen last year after he suffered a further delay to his comeback from a knee injury.

However, Gerrard is expecting Jack to be passed fit to return to the Rangers squad against Ross County.

Kemar Roofe has missed Rangers’ last two games but the Jamaican has made a full recovery and will also be back in contention on Saturday afternoon.

Whilst the Ibrox boss will be delighted to be teaming up with Jack again, his return to fitness is bound to bring with it some selection headaches, which could cause Gerrard a few sleepless nights.

The 28-year-old has made 123 appearances for Rangers, scoring nine goals and supplying eleven assists after making his debut in 2017.

He has become an increasingly influential figure for the Gers and steered Gerrard’s side to a remarkable 1-0 victory over Celtic to inflict Brendan Rodgers’ first defeat in the Old Firm derby.

But the problem is the fact that Rangers are well-stocked in the midfield after the addition of Bongani Zungu and the resurgence of Steven Davis.

Throw Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara into the mix, and you can see the problem Gerrard faces, and that’s without even mentioning the injured Scott Arfield.

Davis has been in imperious form since the start of this season, netting one goal in 28 games from the defensive midfield, but it’s hard to justify signing Zungu on an initial loan deal with the option to buy if he’s largely restricted to substitute appearances.

Similarly, Jack also has a point to prove after yet another injury-stricken campaign. He earnt praise from Gerrard for his performance against Israel, and will want to nail down a starting berth having been absent for a large chunk of the season so far.

Of course it could be argued that Jack can play as part of a midfield two or indeed at right-back, but that just complicates the matter further.

We certainly don’t envy Gerrard his decision, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Rangers dealt transfer blow after Nottingham Forest launch bid for Siriki Dembele…

Crystal Palace have earned wins in their past two Premier League fixtures and could go three games unbeaten on the trot for the first time since the 2019/20 season.

The south London-based club currently sit 13th in the table and could leapfrog Leeds United when Roy Hodgson’s side travel to take on Marcelo Bielsa’s men in Monday.

Leeds, meanwhile, welcome Palace to Elland Road looking to end a poor run of form that only features two wins in their last five matches across all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Eberechi Eze scored a sublime free-kick to mark his first goal for the Eagles the last time the two sides met, and Hodgson is likely to field a near-identical starting XI to November’s dramatic five-goal thriller against the same opponents, as they seek to build on their new-found momentum following an inconsistent start to the season.

Hodgson is optimistic that James McArthur will be available for selection having missed Tuesday night’s nail-biting win over Newcastle, and if he passes a late fitness test, then he must be granted a starting berth alongside the ever-reliable Jairo Riedewald as he will be tasked with the duty of keeping Patrick Bamford quiet when the striker drops deep.

In terms of the statistics, the numbers suggest that he should be able to do this, having kept Bamford in his back pocket for most of the game at Selhurst Park. Indeed, McArthur won five duels overall, which suggests that he managed to get the better of Bamford, who could only win one from eight attempts in total, although he did manage to get a shot away on goal to halve their lead.

Other than Tyrick Mitchell, no player in the squad records more tackles (3.2) per 90 in the Premier League than the 33-year-old Scotsman while his average number of passes (42.9) is the third-highest in the team, via WhoScored.

Unlike some of his teammates, McArthur, who was dubbed “fantastic” by the Palace boss, clearly is not one to go missing, that’s for sure.

Therefore, should he prove his match fitness, Hodgson must ensure the £55,000-per-week earning veteran is recalled for their upcoming fixtures against Leeds and Burnley, respectively.

AND in other news, Sean Dyche could be an ideal heir to Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace…

Rejoice, Celtic have won another game of football. It might not have come about in the most convincing of circumstances but it’s another three points nonetheless.

That eventuality has felt like a rarity for the Bhoys this year. In 2021, they have won just three of their eight league outings.

Of course, having 13 players self-isolating after the Old Firm derby wasn’t the best news, but four straight games without a win all but put an end to their chances of winning the SPFL.

They are considerably off the pace and it’s unlikely this win will help them too much. Though, two wins in a row since their dismal defeat to St Mirren will undoubtedly help.

Typical of Celtic this season, their win over Motherwell didn’t come easy. Diego Laxalt was forced into clearing the ball off the line in the dying embers, saving Neil Lennon’s bacon.

Though, it wasn’t the Uruguayan or either of their goal scorers, Stephen Welsh and Odsonne Edouard that were Lennon’s true heroes.

Instead, it was another full-back in Greg Taylor who stole the show for the Hoops.

He was a rampaging force down the left-hand side and in the words of Glasgow Live reporter Chris Doyle, he was “everywhere.”

Doyle wrote at full-time: “(Taylor) linked up with Odsonne Edouard brilliantly. Great delivery, constantly pressing and unlucky to be subbed early. Celtic might be put off by Diego Laxalt’s asking price if he continues in this vein of form.”

Edouard may have been guilty of missing a few opportunities but he will have been grateful for the service he received from Taylor. The Scot managed as many as four key passes, a tally that was bettered by no one else on the pitch. He managed three successful crosses – again the most of any Celtic player – and performed two dribbles to boot.

That put him level with Tom Rogic for the most successful take-ons in the game for a player in green and white.

It wasn’t all about attacking qualities though. He was stern in the challenge and won five ground duels. Once again, that was more than any other Hoops player.

The 23-year-old was undoubtedly their most vibrant force as he completely tormented Motherwell. As Doyle stated, it will have them thinking twice about a permanent move for Laxalt.

The duo have both been inconsistent at times this term but this has put Taylor well and truly in the driving seat to become Lennon’s first-choice on the left side of defence.

Welsh and Edouard may take the headlines for their goals, but it was Taylor who really stole the show for the Hoops.

AND in other news, £7m Celtic brute could become a real star if Desmond hires “very demanding” 62 y/o…

If you cast your minds back to the beginning of the season, you may have been forgiven for feeling that Crystal Palace had big ambitions for the future.

Roy Hodgson’s side had just competed in the Premier League for the seventh consecutive season in a row to tie the club’s all-time record for the longest ever spell in the top flight, and Steve Parish seemed prepared to break out the cheque book.

Selhurst Park bore witness to a wave of new signings, including Michy Batshuayi, Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson, to usher in what was seen by many as a new era for the club. However, fast forward several months later, and very little has arguably changed between now and then, as Palace currently lie 13th in the table, only one place higher than where they finished last season.

The Guardian’s Ben Fisher recently reported that Ivan Toney was one of the names on their shortlist in the summer of 2020. The link certainly made sense. Palace were in dire need of a new centre-forward and Toney was seen as the perfect fit.

But unfortunately for Hodgson, Brentford got there first, leaving the Eagles to rue their missed opportunity as he has taken to life in the Championship like a duck to water.

The scorer of 23 goals and supplier of nine assists for Thomas Frank’s men, the 24-year-old’s heroics have caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs, including local London rivals West Ham, as he looks destined to make the jump to the top flight next term.

For context, Toney has almost scored more goals by himself this season than the entire Palace squad (27), which is a pretty shocking statistic.

An absolute nightmare for defenders to deal with due to his unpredictable mix of sheer size, strength and agility, the former Peterborough forward is an unrelenting force to be reckoned with, having scored 24 goals in 32 League One appearances last season.

If we compare Toney with Batshuayi this term, the English national is light years ahead of his Belgian counterpart. Toney takes 2.9 shots on average per 90 in the Championship whereas Batshuayi can barely muster 0.7 shots per game in the Premier League.

The Bees signed Toney from the Posh for a reported fee believed to be in the region of £5m plus add-ons. Had Palace pulled the trigger, it’s hard to imagine that their attack wouldn’t have improved.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace have struck gold with Eberechi Eze…