Tag Futebol

Oh dear Liverpool: when Divock Origi is your backup for the Champions League you know it is time to invest.

Look away now Liverpool fans: Roberto Firmino is a doubt for the Champions League clash against Barcelona after suffering a small muscle tear in training last week.

The Belgium forward has been tipped to step in if Roberto Firmino misses Liverpool’s huge trip to Camp Nou to face Barcelona on Wednesday.

The Brazilian was rested during last week’s 5-0 battering of Huddersfield Town after suffering what manager Jurgen Klopp called a “small muscle tear”.

Understandably the Liverpool boss is hopeful that the star forward will be available to play in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in Catalonia, for what might be their best shot at European glory, despite reaching the final last year.

In the disastrous case of Firmino’s absence though, Origi has been nominated as the man to replace him, according to Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson.

“No Roberto Firmino would be a massive miss for Liverpool , he is the common denominator in the front three,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“He just dovetails brilliantly with the other two [Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah] and he’s such a clever player, too.

“…Origi gives Liverpool something different to what Firmino does. He has great pace does Divock and can play alongside that frontline. He can even drift off to the left if he’s asked too and we’ve seen that this season.

“I wouldn’t say missing Firmino ‘weakens’ Liverpool as Origi just offers something a bit different, but I’d like them to go to Barcelona with Roberto Firmino in the squad.”

Unfortunately, we would have to disagree with this hopeful statement. Missing Firmino seriously weakens the Liverpool attacking line-up, and it brings to light just how necessary it is for Klopp to invest in the summer to bring in a suitable replacement. Someone, maybe, more like-minded and with similar qualities as the Brazilian. Someone that isn’t Divock Origi.

It is not that Origi is a necessarily bad player. He is not particularly good, no – but he does a job off the bench. However, when you are asking him to start in a Champions League semi-final then you are setting yourself up for a fall.

Liverpool fans, do you think you need to sign a new striker in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Loads of Newcastle fans have been running the rule over the latest transfer news, as reports in Germany claim the Magpies are chasing Nurnberg midfielder Patrick Erras.

According to Bild, Newcastle are “keen” on a move for Erras this summer, but will face plenty of competition for his signature.

Erras will enter the final year of his contract next season, meaning it’s exactly the type of deal Mike Ashley will go for, and the report claims a whole host of English clubs are interested.

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Of course, Newcastle will be in need of some midfield reinforcements; Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey are both likely to depart while Mo Diame’s future is still anyone’s guess.

Diame is depending on a contract extension that is triggered by a certain amount of appearances, while Hayden is expected to repeat his January attempts to leave and Shelvey is wanted by West Ham.

Erras is only 24, but standing at 6 ft 5 he would provide a huge boost in physicality to Newcastle’s midfield.

Plenty of fans have given their verdict on the links though, and they’re getting more and more fed up of Ashley’s bargain hunting…

A cup final win at Wembley, promotion still on the table, it’s been a brilliant season for Portsmouth, and the numbers are there to show it.

Pompey’s 3-2 win to Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday was the club’s 19th away win away from home in all competitions this season, a club record, and their 12th in the league, their best record equal to three other campaigns in the club’s 98 years of playing in the Football League.

A result on the road to either Burton or Sunderland will see the club break a new record for wins away from home in league football, and although this achievement seems possible, the club must be wary not to make this goal a primary objective.

Whilst it is nice to have a season so good that the club is breaking personal records that have stood for decades, the main goal for Portsmouth this season is to seal promotion to the Championship, with a second place finish the ideal outcome.

Focusing too much on getting wins away from home neglects the importance of other games in the season. Portsmouth have a fantastic opportunity to reach the Championship after dropping out of the English second-tier seven years ago, and if Kenny Jackett’s side are to accomplish that they have the be treating each game as important as the next.

With Barnsley showing cracks under the pressure and Pompey to travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in another must-win match, Portsmouth have the confidence and quality to sneak into the top-two and claim an automatic promotion place, but focusing on a personal record could make the club lose sight on winnable games at home, and Jackett can’t allow that to happen.

Portsmouth fans, can the club beat their away record this season? Let us know!

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According to Tutto Mercato, Everton are interested in a move for Roma forward Patrik Schick, who has reportedly been made available for just €24m by the Italian side.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Czech Republic international used to be one of the most highly-rated young forwards in Europe having slammed in 13 goals in 35 appearances for Sampdoria at a young age.

His form there earned him a huge €42m move to Roma, a club-record fee for them, although it is safe to say that things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the 23-year-old.

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Since arriving in Rome, Schick has found the back of the net just eight times in 53 appearances, ultimately proving to be a big-money flop for the Serie A side and a player definitely not worth such a huge sum of money.

However, as aforesaid, he is just 23 years of age; with time on his side, he could still fulfil his huge potential.

Completely unfair on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

One man who has worked tirelessly for the Toffees this season, and is visibly improving with every passing game, is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Toffees academy graduate has scored six league goals this season – double that of Schick – whilst also recording an assist in just 13 starts.

His overall game is coming on nicely, although reports linking Everton with a move for Edin Dzeko, Jean-Kevin Augustin and now Schick suggest that they are attempting to push the England Under-21 star further down the pecking order – that is simply unfair given his obvious improvement and good work for the team this season.

At just 22 years of age, Calvert-Lewin should be being nurtured and focused on, and not looking to be replaced by a player in Schick who is just one year older than him and not even guaranteed to deliver better numbers.

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Leeds United’s U23 side secured the Professional Development League North title following a 2-0 win against Colchester United on Monday, and Clarke Oduor was one of their impressive performers on the night.

The 19-year-old has been with the Yorkshire outfit for many years having progressed through the club’s academy, and he is beginning to make a real impact.

The teenager made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup in January, but that is still the only occasion he has been involved in the 18-man squad under Marcelo Bielsa.

Still, he has obviously made an impression having signed a new one-and-a-half year contract last month, with Leeds having the option to extend it by a further 12 months.

Usually a winger the Kenyan started at left-back in Essex, and while he was only on the pitch for the opening 45 minutes he still made a big impression.

Oduor got forward well, didn’t stop running and produced some threatening crosses, and in many ways he is replicating Elland Road favourite Ezgjan Alioski in terms of style.

The Macedonia international has become a real hero among the Leeds faithful after seamlessly making the switch to left-back in recent months despite primarily being a winger, and his African teammate showed that he could follow a similar path on Monday.

With the endurance he has and the end product he showed at times, he could be another versatile option for Bielsa and the Yorkshire outfit for many years to come.

What a disgrace that Birmingham City fan is! The incident on Sunday meant Jack Grealish’s winner meant even more than it already would, and that mentality could drive them into the play-offs.

Not enough focus is placed on the importance on mentality in football. Having the right attitude and desire is just as important as physical ability, and an injustice like the punch thrown on Sunday is something that should give Villa the motivation to earn promotion.

There’s a firm belief at Villa Park that the club doesn’t belong in the Championship because of their historical successes and also the size of the fanbase. A lot of clubs feel this way though, but the incident must make the fans certain they don’t belong in this division.

They’d love nothing better than to see their team back in the top flight while their neighbours struggle to get back up themselves. Of course, it’s better if the two are in the same division for derbies, but bar that they’ll want Birmingham to suffer, particularly after the way the fan and even a steward reacted at the weekend.

Fans of clubs all across the country saw what happened and will now want Villa and Grealish to succeed in spite of that fan. That, along with the support of their own loyal fans, could be the mental difference between accepting they won’t be promoted this season, to really gathering momentum for a play-off push.

The team will have grown stronger as a unit after the win and the issues on the pitch and that will put them in good stead when the going gets tough towards the final few games. The disgusting incident could be the motivation required, if they ever needed it, to break into the play-off spots.

Villa fans, what do you think your club are capable of achieving this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

It came as no surprise when the quality of Dusan Tadic shined through in Ajax’s electrifying victory over serial winners Real Madrid – we have seen it all before in the Premier League, after all.

The Serbian playmaker was in full force on Tuesday night dominating the Real Madrid defence like they were schoolboys with their laces tied together.

His exceptional performance to hoist Ajax into the next round of the Champions League will not be forgotten anytime soon. The day the sleeping giants awaking to break the trend – a real David and Goliath story.

And if it was not sweet enough, it was made all the better by the fact that universally despised Sergio Ramos, who was alleged to have received an intentional suspension for the game, had to watch from the stands while his team were hopelessly torn apart (Independent).

But how and why was Tadic so good?

Simply: because he is.

Dusan Tadic was easily one of the most gifted players at Southampton when he arrived in 2014. Ronald Koeman, whose two-year tenure ultimately marked the encore of post-Pochettino liquid football, knew exactly how to play him: drifting around the forward line with an element of freedom to work his artistry.

Conversely, when the staggeringly boring Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes governed, Tadic was rarely able to recall the form that he made him so great in previous years.

He needed new beginnings and Ajax, the home of total, uncompromising, free-flowing, free-scoring football, was the place.

As it stands, Tadic has netted 26 times and created a further 15 for his teammates in 40 appearances for the club. Remarkable stuff.

And, yes, the Eredivisie is no way near as strong as the Premier League, and frankly the defending is comical at times, but that is exactly why we have seen the best from the Serbian maestro. His can weave in and out of players, he can strut his flicks and tricks, he can make those compilation worthy passes, and most importantly he can dominate.

From the doldrums of Southampton to the sheer joy and jubilation of Ajax Amsterdam, Madrid and beyond – there is one winner here: Dusan Tadic.

Southampton fans, just how bad a decision was it to sell Dusan Tadic over the course of the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

According to The Mail Online, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Everton’s James McCarthy on loan before the end of the transfer window. 

The article also explains that Palace manager Roy Hodgson is keen to add reinforcements in the midfield at Selhurst Park, and the Republic of Ireland international seems like a great option given how out of favour he is at Goodison Park this season under Marco Silva.

McCarthy is yet to play a game for The Toffees in the Premier League this season, and would surely be keen on a move away to help his career. Moreover, Crystal Palace would be the perfect place to do this.

The Eagles’ midfield currently comprises of Luka Milivojević, Cheikhou Kouyaté and James McArthur. While the Serbian’s place seems guaranteed under Hodgson, McCarthy has a great chance to fight for one of the other two spots.

Why this would be such a good move is that Crystal Palace are currently in a worse position than Everton, so are more likely to play than the 28-year-old, but are not playing that badly. The Eagles have already beaten Man City this season in the league, pushed Liverpool all the way and recently beat Tottenham in the FA Cup. He would not be joining a horror-show of a club, and could, therefore, impress his parent club. Their performance against Spurs also showed that they are defensively resolute, meaning McCarthy has a great platform to impress.

This is a move that must happen if McCarthy does not want to waste his career.

Steven Gerrard has guided Rangers to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

The Gers were in good form against Hamilton. In the end, they won 4-1 thanks to a brace from Scott Arfield, as well as goals from Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos.

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However, it wasn’t all good news for the Ibrox outfit. Midway through the second half, Borna Barisic went down injured and needed to be replaced by Andy Halliday. The sight of him going down, and then being confirmed to have a hip-flexor issue, has not gone down well.

The 27-year-old has been in top form for Rangers so far this season, picking up two goals and 14 assists in 32 matches in all competitions from left-back. If he is out for the considerable future, it will be a blow to the club’s aspirations for the rest of the campaign.

Others fans, meanwhile, do not want to see Halliday on the field.

Having made just eight appearances in all competitions so far this term, the 28-year-old is clearly not a big part of his manager’s plans, and him needing to replace Barisic for a significant amount of time will perhaps be a worry for Gerrard.

Hopefully, the Croatia international isn’t on the sidelines for too long.

Elsewhere, Rangers laud this man against Hamilton.

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Sunderland forward Josh Maja is widely expected to leave the Stadium of Light this month with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Maja has seemingly turned down the chance to extend his contract with the Black Cats and is therefore likely to be sold before the end of January.

The 20-year-old has scored 15 times in all competitions for Sunderland this season, with 14 of those coming in 23 League One appearances.

Last week, talkSPORT linked Tottenham with a move for the centre-forward.

And with that in mind, we recently asked the Tottenham fans whether they would be interested in signing the youngster.

As it transpired, 72% of the Spurs fans polled revealed that they did want to sign Maja.

Tottenham’s need for a new forward could well be accelerated with Harry Kane picking up an ankle injury during Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

The full results of the poll can be seen below: