All posts by h716a5.icu

When Sheffield United announced their retained list earlier this week, the decision not to offer a deal for one player in particular would have come as a shock to many of the club’s supporters.

Having joined the Blades last summer following a brief spell with Middlesbrough, Martin Cranie had to wait until November to make his debut for the club in a clash with Nottingham Forest.

Although his side would go on to lose 1-0 at the City Ground, the central-defender’s impressive individual performance saw him grab the attention of boss Chris Wilder who chose to include him as part of United’s team rotation policy in the second-half of the season.

With the Blades fighting for automatic promotion in the Championship, Cranie used all his experience to help the club overcome the challenge of Leeds United as he played a prominent role in the run-in by featuring in seven of the final ten games of the year.

Therefore, by producing key contributions to the club’s success during the 2018/19 campaign, the defender must have thought that he had done enough to earn a new contract at Bramall Lane. Yet along with Conor Washington, Daniel Lafferty, Paul Coutts and Caolan Lavery, Cranie was released by United on Wednesday (via BBC Sport).

Although Wilder would argue that in the form of Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell the Blades already have better options for next season in comparison to the 32-year-old, it may turn out to be a mistake letting him leave.

Having already played at Premier League level before for Huddersfield Town and Southampton, Cranie could have used his experience to help his team-mates make the necessary adjustments needed in order to compete at a higher level.

However, with the club deciding to cut ties with the defender, it would not be at all surprising if they face a season of struggle in the top flight in his absence.

What do you think Blades fans? Was it the right call by Wilder to not offer a new deal for Cranie? Are you confident that your side survive in the Premier League next year? Let us know below.

Southampton fans are pleased they managed to remain a Premier League side this season, albeit they know it wouldn’t have been possible without Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager. Hopefully now, the club can rise again under his masterful watch. 

The changes he implemented when taking over from Mark Hughes ultimately were the reasons why Southampton secured their top-flight safety. And, with a full transfer window to inflict the changes he wants at St Mary’s, Southampton could be a far greater team next season.

It is important that whilst he is Southampton’s manager, the owners sufficiently back him so that he has the greatest possible chance of success down on the South Coast.

If he stays with Southampton’s philosophy of nurturing and bettering young players futures, then Bristol City’s Lloyd Kelly would be the ideal summer signing. Kelly, (who is valued at £1.8 million on Transfermarkt) could be the next to follow in the footsteps of many successful youngsters who have been at Southampton.

There’s certainly precedent on the south coast, after all…

The 20-year-old has been linked (as per the Bristol Post) with a move to St. Mary’s as Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to add some more youth and all-round quality to their starting line-up. Although Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett are good defenders who also play left-back, Kelly has great potential to become one of the countries best in that role.

Also having the ability to play centre-back, it is no wonder why so many teams have been linked with a move to sign the 20-year-old, given the almighty potential he possesses.

Southampton have always usually believed in bringing through English talent and as this rumour suggests, they are keen to continue that trend and allow Lloyd Kelly to reach his full potential in the Premier League.

Saints fans, do you think Lloyd Kelly would be a good signing? If not, why not? Let us know!

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Back in 2012, Watford were taken over by the wealthy Pozzo family. What’s occurred since has been a roller coaster of a ride for the Hornets.

From a failed promotion campaign to a stint in the Premier League, the club is now on the verge of FA Cup glory.

This weekend, the Hertfordshire side will make the short journey south to Wembley. It’ll be their first appearance in an FA Cup final for over 30 years.

The club has clearly come a long way since.

But it’s not just matters on the pitch that have been boosted. The environment and atmosphere surrounding the club has improved too, and opinions on Watford from supporters elsewhere has also risen in stock.

This is largely thanks to Javi Gracia. The Spanish manager has done a phenomenal job, doing what no other Watford boss has done since the Pozzo’s arrived: achieve stability and long-term success.

The Hornets have gone through nine managers in seven years, Gracia is just the second to clear a half-century of games. Symbolically, the other was Gianfranco Zola, the man who started the Pozzo’s revolution.

Zola’s first season saw the club score 85 goals, it also saw that classic ‘Hogg-Deeney’ moment against Leicester in the play-off semi-final. But despite all that, the club failed to go up.

Before that campaign, Watford were easy to dismiss. However, the Pozzo’s influence eradicated that. Along came ten Udinese players, all signed on loan as a wave of hostility towards the club began.

Watford’s new owners had ties with the Italian club and Granada, two teams they’d also stabilised. However, it provoked a feeling of hatred. With Twitter still relatively in its infancy, individuals were quick to jump on the bandwagon, slamming the way the club operated.

This was a key theme from the Pozzo’s early days at Watford. They were ridiculed, as the club was predominantly made up of players not even belonging to them.

Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra were chief suspects, playing hugely influential roles in the club’s early success. The latter was vital, striking up a fine partnership with Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney in the year Watford achieved promotion.

Whether or not you agree with how the club went about doing things, you can’t argue it didn’t work.

But those admissions have now essentially been forgotten about. No longer are fans calling Watford a B team. Rather ironically, it’s Udinese now benefiting. In January, Stefano Okaka, Marvin Zeegelaar and Ben Wilmot all joined them on loan. It’s funny how times change.

Watford are now at the top of the Pozzo’s thoughts. Udinese finished 16th in Serie A, Granada spent the season in the Segunda Division.

But those two teams aren’t the story here, Watford are. Ahead of their first major cup final since 1984 they have a list of people to thank.

Not least Gracia who has them playing an entertaining brand of football supporters would only have dreamt of before 2012.

Slavisa Jokanovic also deserves praise for getting the club promoted. Yet, in typical Watford fashion, he wasn’t to last.

Initially, it looked as though the policy to change managers on a regular basis was vindicated. After all, it kept them in the Premier League. Quique Sanchez Flores and Walter Mazarri’s methods weren’t always easy to agree with but they ensured survival.

The Pozzo’s best appointment was arguably last season. It wasn’t Gracia, but instead, it was Marco Silva. He took their football to the next level and with players like Richarlison and Ricardo Pereyra brought a style that had never been associated with the club.

Silva’s replacement then took over the mantle to devastating effect

Are Watford the most likely club to break the top 6 next season? The fans in the video below certainly agree the ‘W’ part of that statement is correct…

The thought is now no longer about being Udinese B’s team and that’s been significantly aided by Gracia.

Watford has never been a club to rave about but the last seven years have been fascinating to watch. Should they beat Manchester City on Saturday, it’ll be up there as one of the greatest achievements in their history.

For a team who were once so reliant on players from other clubs, it would be quite the story.

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When it comes to robust forwards in the Premier League there aren’t many better than Salomon Rondon.

The striker doesn’t find the net on a regular basis and has failed to come close to matching the 17 strikes he netted in 2014/15 over the last four years.

Yet, he’s still a force to be reckoned with. The Venezuelan scored 11 goals this term on loan at Newcastle. It’s hardly impressive, but it didn’t have to be given his contribution to the team in other areas.

It took Rondon seven games to score his first Newcastle goal after signing temporarily from West Brom. For all the world it looked like he was going to struggle again. But what followed was five strikes in his next eight matches. It was a superb turnaround.

However, despite being inconsistent in front of goal for large parts of the season, he was anything but when it came to aerial duels.

At 6 ft 1, the 29-year-old isn’t the tallest of attackers but his ability to bully defenders and gain an advantage with his physicality is phenomenal.

Over the course of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign, he won 146 aerial duels, winning on average five per game.

It’s a tally that puts him behind just Aleksandar Mitrovic, Steve Mounie, Troy Deeney and Glenn Murray for battles won in the air by out-and-out strikers. Considering Newcastle don’t particularly play long ball football, it’s hugely impressive.

Given his aerial prowess, he’d make a superb addition to the Wolves squad. Last week The Daily Mail claimed that the club had made contact with West Brom for his services.

The player has a £16.5m release clause according to the report and, for the benefit of Nuno Santo’s wing-backs, they have to trigger it.

This season Matt Doherty claimed five assists from the right whilst Jonny only claimed the one from out on the left.

However, if Wolves are able to bring in Rondon, who was able to win as many as nine aerial duels in one game this term, they could be in dreamland.

Raul Jimenez isn’t exactly weak in the air but both Jonny and Doherty could find themselves boasting far greater attacking stats if they have Rondon to aim for with their crosses.

Wolves have been brilliant to watch on the counter-attack this campaign, but they could be about to discover another devastating form of attack.

Djaniny Semedo might not be a name that many in the football world know about, however, that has not stopped West Ham United from taking note.

According to Portuguese media outlet A Bola, the Hammers are thought to be keen on the Al-Ahli Jeddah striker this summer after impressing for the Saudi Arabian outfit.

The 28-year-old, who is a Cape Verde international, has been in prolific form for his club this season, having managed to score 23 goals and providing eight assists in his 29 appearances.

West Ham need a striker that knows how to find the back of the net this summer. Although there might be doubts about what Semedo could actually bring to the London Stadium, it might actually be worth them taking the risk and trying to sign him.

Take Manuel Lanzini for example.

The Argentine was a relatively unknown quantity when he first arrived at the club, however, he turned out to become an influential figure for the side and has since become a favourite with the Claret and Blue faithful.

He was snapped up from a club playing in the Middle-East.

Obviously, it is difficult to say that Semedo could prove to be a success and turn out like Lanzini has, however, the Cape Verdean has every chance of being able to do so.

He has shown he can find the back of the net on a regular basis and if clubs like Wolves and Everton are also sniffing around, he must clearly have something about him to suggest that he will be successful in England.

West Ham fans, what do you think the club should do? Do you think Semedo could have the same success as Lanzini? Let us know below!

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As Aston Villa players celebrated triumphantly on the Wembley pitch on Monday, those associated with West Brom could only wonder what may have been.

Both teams had their ups and downs this season and following heartbreak last term only one of them could make up for it in 2018/19.

Villa, of course, tasted defeat in the play-off final last term, but Albion were relegated from the Premier League. It’s a division that feels miles away from them at the moment.

This summer will be a huge rebuilding job for the Baggies. A number of players have departed and countless more look as though they’ll leave. Express & Star hinted that first team defenders Ahmed Hegazi, Craig Dawson and Kieran Gibbs among others could be those who are first through the exit door.

However, there are more pressing concerns before any of that happens. To start with, they need a new manager.

It would be typical West Brom if they went into the new season with another member of their backroom staff in charge. This time, they must take a risk and in doing so, follow the example set by their Midlands rivals who defeated them in the play-off semi-final.

In short, Albion must find someone like Dean Smith. That’s easier said than done but he has a number of qualities Luke Dowling must be searching for when he holds talks with managers the club are interested in.

This week, he will meet with Wolfsburg’s Bruno Labaddia, a man who, like the Villa boss, led his side out of trouble to a more than respectable league finish.

Would he be the man to rebuild Albion? Only time will tell, but he certainly has the qualities to do so. The question, though, is whether the German would have the funds.

The Baggies face a monumental task to patch up their squad over the window and at the same time, they also need to reduce their wage bill which currently stands at £38m.

Consequently, they need a boss who can work on a tight budget. Smith is famed for doing this, first at Brentford and now with the Villans. After the failings under Steve Bruce which almost rinsed the club of all their financial resources, they’ve undertaken a new model. It’s one which West Brom must now follow.

If they can find a manager capable of working on the slim budget that’s likely to be given, then they can strike gold. In some regards, Albion do need to play safe, but they must balance this with the right amount of risk.

The future of the football club is on the line here. If Mark Jenkins and Dowling get things wrong, a third season in the Championship beckons.

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon is keen on Mikael Lustig staying at the club next season, despite his contract expiring shortly, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Lustig, who was signed by Lennon back in his first spell as Hoops boss, is one of the longest serving members of the Celtic squad but to date there’s been little sign of movement when it comes to extending his stay at Celtic Park beyond another treble winning season.

Lennon though has confirmed talks have taken place regarding an extension, explaining to The Scottish Sun:

“I have spoken to him, but not to his representatives. I had good feedback from Mika.

“I would like him to stay. I think he still has a year or two in him.

“He has been a fantastic player for the club. He has been pivotal on and off the field.”

With a notable decline in his playing performances over the last 18 months, is a renewal of Lustig’s contract wise, especially if it’d be a potential two-year deal?

Keith from C’mon the Hoops throws back to the ‘Battle of Britain’ from the 2003 UEFA Cup quarter-finals in the video below…

Should Celtic keep Lustig?

The argument for keeping the veteran Swedish international is strong, but with certain caveats.

With Cristian Gamboa and Jeremy Toljan leaving the club this summer, there’s little chance of Celtic entering the market and signing two quality right-backs, so keeping Lustig for another year makes some amount of sense.

There’s no doubt he is a leader on and off the pitch, but he is also a critical weak link in the team on a consistent basis, with opposition often directly targeting Celtic’s right flank when he is playing.

In bigger matches and against better teams that could prove costly.

Signing him up to a new deal then should come with the promise to supporters that the club are seeking a new first-choice right-back to play regularly and Lustig should be informed his role would be strictly as back-up or as relief against lesser teams.

No sentiment

A two-year deal, as hinted at by Lennon, seems excessive and is surely capitulating to sentiment that dictates the long-serving player should be here for a potential 10-in-a-row winning season.

The evidence he can play at the top level for another two seasons is not there and if Celtic are to maintain the incredible success they have enjoyed over the last few years then there is no room for such sentiment or complacency.

The Hoops need the best players available in all positions and can’t afford to carry Lustig for too long beyond his use by date.

To say Manchester United struggle defensively would, clearly, be the understatement of the year. Indeed, having conceded 54 goals in the Premier League alone over the course of the campaign, the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones must have invoked the ire of fans this season, as well as some of the players. 

According to the Times towards the end of May, figures within the club’s dressing room were annoyed at the sight of those two – as well as Ashley Young – being handed big new deals not viewed as reflective to their standing in the team. So, not an ideal situation by any means.

Well, to cheer you all up, as is always likely to happen at this time of year, the club have been linked to some pretty exciting names when it comes to potentially fixing problems. That’s because, according to A Bola via Sports Witness, the club are looking to sign Benfica’s highly-rated defender Ruben Dias.

The young Portuguese centre-back has hit headlines with the Lisbon giants, establishing himself as somewhat of a defensive tower in their backline. Indeed, Joao Felix might be the star seemingly everyone has their attention on, but Dias is just as exciting.

Impressively, he’s also a player suited to play onto Victor Lindelof’s strengths. Dias averaged 3.4 clearances, 3.2 aerials won and 1.2 tackles per game (stats via WhoScored) last season, while putting in dominant performances in Europe as well. Obviously, a move to the Premier League would take some getting used to, but that kind of physical presence alongside the aforementioned Swede (who boasts a fairly impressive 88.2% passing success rate) looks like a natural foil.

United need to start building from the back, giving their midfield a base to go off before releasing some of the clearly talented forwards the club have on their books. Obviously, it’s going to be a process, but the potential signing of Dias could go some way into helping that transition.

United fans, do you think Dias can be the solution to the defensive problems? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Leeds United’s official Twitter account announced on Tuesday afternoon that the team’s Under-14 side had won the Flint Micasa Cup in Norway.

Indeed, the Whites triumphed courtesy of a 2-1 win over Viking in the final.

And the news led to a number of the club’s supporters taking to social media to lavish praise on the youth side.

There is no getting away from the fact that it was a hugely disappointing end to the 2018-19 campaign for the first team.

Indeed, defeat to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the Championship playoff semi-finals saw their hopes of earning promotion to the Premier League come to an end.

The future certainly looks bright, though, with a number of players impressing for the club’s Under-23 side last term.

And now the Under-14s have shown their quality by triumphing in Norway.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Leeds fans can be seen below:

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According to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace have rejected a bid worth up to £50m from Manchester United for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although the report also states that the Eagles would accept the same fee up front, with the Red Devils currently offering an initial £35m plus £15m in add-ons.

If this discrepancy is to be the final obstacle between the player and a switch to Old Trafford, then it seems possible that the 21-year-old will leave Selhurst Park this summer. However, there is no doubt he will be sorely missed, even at that price.

On the chalkboard

Palace’s number 29 is likely to only get better and – especially considering the premium placed on young, English talents these days – he could command a greater fee even after just one more season of top flight football with the SE7 outfit.

On the other hand, the 6 ft talent has just one full season of Premier League action under his belt and full-backs, generally speaking, are amongst the more replaceable players in any team. Palace would arguably be more than justified, then, in snapping United’s hand off if they do indeed come back with £50m upfront.

So why would Wan-Bissaka’s departure be felt so much at Selhurst Park?

A significantly weaker right side

With £50m in the bank, Palace could easily sign a solid right-back and then have some to spare, but rarely can full-backs get fans on their feet if they’re not whipping in inch-perfect crosses or firing home long-range efforts – Wan-Bissaka is a key exception.

The academy graduate’s timing in his tackle and sheer determination to get back and snuff out danger has made him a fan favourite amongst the Selhurst Park faithful, while also making the Eagles’ right side near impenetrable.

Are Crystal Palace right to slap a £100m valuation on Wilfried Zaha’s head? Check out the video below to see why they are…

Last season, Wan-Bissaka averaged 3.7 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game. To illustrate how impressive that is, he ranked in the top ten of all Premier League players on both fronts. The local lad was also dribbled past just 0.3 times per game in 2018/19 – the least in his position for players who have made more than 15 appearances.

It’s pretty safe to assume then, barring some incredible scouting, that Palace will struggle to replace that level of solidity this summer – a level of solidity that has the club rating Wan-Bissaka at £50m. And for a team whose survival last term very much owed to a mean defensive record, ranking sixth for clean sheets, losing such a reliable presence could have a very big effect. It chips away at Palace’s greatest strength, Wilfried Zaha’s talismanic performances excepting.

£50m is a lot of money for a team like Palace, but that doesn’t mean they’d be better off in Wan-Bissaka’s absence.